<p>Life needs proteins for almost everything, from cell repair to immune defense. Scientists have long asked how the first proteins were formed before cells had complex machinery.</p>



<p>A new study reports a simple, water-friendly reaction that links early ingredients into the first steps toward protein-making. </p>



<p>The project was led by Professor Matthew Powner at University College London (<a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UCL</a>), a chemist whose lab explores prebiotic chemistry.</p>



<p>"At life’s functional core, there is a complex and inseparable interplay between nucleic acids and proteins, but the origin of this relationship remains a mystery," wrote the researchers.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-molecules-that-build-proteins">Molecules that build proteins</h2>



<p>The team showed that RNA - a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-discovery-water-molecules-will-force-chemistry-textbooks-to-be-rewritten/">molecule</a> that stores and transfers genetic information and can catalyze reactions - can become chemically linked to amino acids. </p>



<p>These small molecules build proteins, and the linkage occurs under mild conditions in water.</p>



<p>The researchers changed amino acids into a more reactive form that holds extra energy, then linked those energized amino acids to RNA at a specific spot in the molecule, all without needing enzymes.</p>



<p>The reaction preferred the end of a double stranded RNA over interior positions, which avoids random chemistry that would scramble sequences. </p>



<p>The experts also reported strong yields for several amino acids, including arginine linked to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/forgotten-chemical-reactions-offer-clues-to-lifes-origins/">adenosine</a> at up to 76 percent.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sulfur-chemistry-drives-origins">Sulfur chemistry drives origins</h2>



<p>A thiol is a sulfur-containing compound common in metabolism, and thioesters made from thiols power many reactions in modern cells. </p>



<p>Using thioesters makes chemical sense for early Earth because they react in water without falling apart quickly, helping drive protein-related chemistry.</p>



<p>Earlier work from the same community showed that pantetheine, the active fragment of Coenzyme A that forms many biological thioesters today, can form under prebiotic conditions in water. </p>



<p>That work supports the idea that the same types of sulfur chemistry existed before life began.</p>



<p>This new result connects that energy-rich chemistry to RNA handling of amino acids. It links metabolism- like reactions to information carriers, which is exactly the bridge origin of life research has needed.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-molecules-found-in-all-living-cells">Molecules found in all living cells</h2>



<p>The team uncovered a switch that controls two different steps. In step one, thioesters favor attaching the amino acid to RNA, creating aminoacyl RNA in water at neutral pH. </p>



<p>In step two, converting to thioacids and adding a mild oxidant pushed peptide bond formation, which produced peptidyl RNA in very high yields.</p>



<p>Peptides are short chains of amino acids, usually two to 50 units long, while larger folded chains are proteins. </p>



<p>Making peptidyl RNA shows that RNA-bound amino acids can be extended into short chains, a necessary move toward protein-like function.</p>



<p>“What is groundbreaking is that the activated amino acid used in this study is a thioester, a type of molecule made from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/key-compound-suggests-that-life-beyond-earth-could-be-common/">Coenzyme A</a>, a chemical found in all living cells," said Dr. Jyoti Singh of UCL Chemistry. "This discovery could potentially link metabolism, the genetic code, and protein building,”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-neutral-waters-spark-proteins">Neutral waters spark proteins</h2>



<p>The chemistry works in water at near neutral pH, which points to pools, lakes, or wet shorelines rather than the open ocean. </p>



<p>Concentrations would have been higher in small bodies of water, and minerals could have helped organize the molecules.</p>



<p>Freeze concentrate cycles also help. The researchers observed effective aminoacylation under eutectic ice conditions near 19°F. </p>



<p>In this environment, ice excludes salt and concentrates solutes into brines, which speed reactions without harsh reagents.</p>



<p>“It seems pretty probable that this reaction would have been occurring on early Earth,” said Professor Powner. That assessment reflects the mild requirements and the water compatibility of the chemistry.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bridging-chemistry-and-biology">Bridging chemistry and biology</h2>



<p>Modern cells make proteins with the ribosome, a ribonucleoprotein machine that reads messenger RNA and couples amino acids with the help of transfer RNAs. </p>



<p>The new chemistry provides a path for RNA to handle amino acids without proteins, easing the chicken or egg problem.</p>



<p>An earlier study proposed an <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rna-breakthrough-sheds-light-on-the-beginning-of-life/">RNA</a> peptide world in which RNA and short peptides co-evolved, forming chimeric molecules that could grow and select function. </p>



<p>The present result shows a plausible way for RNA to acquire and extend amino acids in water.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-modern-genetic-code">The modern genetic code</h2>



<p>The genetic code is the set of rules that maps RNA triplets to amino acids. </p>



<p>By preferring attachment at RNA termini and operating under duplex control, this chemistry hints at how sequence specific pairing could later become coded instruction.</p>



<p>The researchers point to the need for sequence preferences that pair specific RNA sequences with specific <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/lifes-building-blocks-may-have-formed-near-newborn-stars-and-planets/">amino acids</a>. That would move from chemistry that charges RNA to chemistry that begins to encode.</p>



<p>Success there would show how early RNA could use simple rules to shape peptide sequences, with later evolution building the fully fledged ribosome and the modern code.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09388-y" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature</em></a>.</p>



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Scientists think they discovered the origin of life on Earth

Life needs proteins for almost everything, from cell repair to immune defense. Scientists have long asked how the first proteins were formed before cells had complex machinery. A new study reports a simple, water-friendly reaction that links early ingredients into the first steps toward protein-making. The project was led by Professor Matthew Powner at University College London (UCL), a chemist whose lab explores prebiotic chemistry. "At life’s functional core, there is a complex and inseparable interplay between nucleic acids and proteins, but the origin of this relationship...

<p>Americans are carving out far less time to read for pleasure than they did two decades ago. The drop is large, sustained, and uneven across communities.&nbsp;</p>



<p>In a new study, experts warn the slide could carry cultural, educational, and health costs if it continues.</p>



<p>Researchers at the University of Florida (UF) <a href="https://www.artsinmedicine.arts.ufl.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Center for Arts in Medicine</a> analyzed 20 years of time-use data from more than 236,000 U.S. residents. The study revealed a decline of more than 40% in daily leisure reading since 2003.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-steep-steady-decline">A steep, steady decline </h2>



<p>Study co-author Jill Sonke is co-director of the EpiArts Lab, a National Endowment for the Arts research lab at UF in partnership with <a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University College London</a> (UCL).&nbsp;</p>



<p>“This is not just a small dip - it's a sustained, steady decline of about 3% per year,” said Sonke. “It's significant, and it's deeply concerning.”</p>



<p>The trend does not mean everyone has stopped reading. It does mean that, as a nation, fewer people now choose a book, magazine, or long article when they have time to spare.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-who-is-reading-less-in-america">Who is reading less in America?</h2>



<p>The downturn is not evenly distributed. Steeper declines were found among Black Americans than white Americans, among people with lower incomes or less formal education, and in rural areas compared with metropolitan ones. Even among groups that tend to read more, the pattern is shifting.</p>



<p>“While people with higher education levels and women are still more likely to read, even among these groups, we're seeing shifts,” said lead author Jessica Bone, a senior research fellow in statistics and epidemiology at UCL.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“And among those who do read, the time spent reading has increased slightly, which may suggest a polarization, where some people are reading more while many have stopped reading altogether.”</p>



<p>Reading with children held steady over the period, which is encouraging. But it happens far less often than adults reading for themselves, despite its outsized importance for early literacy and family bonds.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-leisure-reading-and-daily-life-nbsp">Leisure reading and daily life&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The <a href="https://www.bls.gov/tus/">American Time Use Survey</a> offers a granular window into daily life. It captures how people actually spend their hours, not how they wish they did.</p>



<p>“We're working with incredibly detailed data about how people spend their days,” Bone said. “And because it's a representative sample of U.S. residents in private households, we can look not just at the national trend, but at how it plays out across different communities.”</p>



<p>Over two decades, the pattern is consistent: the share of people reporting any leisure reading on a given day keeps shrinking.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-significance-of-leisure-reading-nbsp">Significance of leisure reading&nbsp;</h2>



<p>“Reading has historically been a low-barrier, high-impact way to engage creatively and improve quality of life,” Sonke said. “When we lose one of the simplest tools in our public health toolkit, it's a serious loss.”</p>



<p>Leisure reading supports language growth, empathy, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/surprising-limits-of-human-imagination-revealed-by-science/">imagination</a>, and lifelong learning. Prior work from the EpiArts Lab links creative engagement to better mental health and well-being.&nbsp;</p>



<p>A national retreat from reading could ripple through classrooms, workplaces, and communities.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-americans-may-be-reading-less">Why Americans may be reading less</h2>



<p>The study did not test causes, but the authors point to likely drivers. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/screen-time-and-mental-health-a-vicious-cycle-for-kids/">Screens</a> now compete for nearly every spare minute. Economic pressures have squeezed leisure time. Access to books and libraries remains uneven.</p>



<p>“Our digital culture is certainly part of the story,” Sonke said. “But there are also structural issues - limited access to reading materials, economic insecurity, and a national decline in leisure time.”</p>



<p>“If you're working multiple jobs or dealing with transportation barriers in a rural area, a trip to the library may just not be feasible.”</p>



<p>Thus, the decline is not only about preference. For many households, it is about time, money, and proximity.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-might-help">What might help</h2>



<p>Interventions can work, the authors argue, but they must be targeted and practical. One of the strongest levers is at home.</p>



<p>“Reading with children is one of the most promising avenues,” said Daisy Fancourt, a UCL professor and co-director of the EpiArts Lab. “It supports not only language and literacy, but empathy, social bonding, emotional development, and school readiness.”</p>



<p>According to the researchers, communities can also make reading easier and more social.</p>



<p>“Ideally, we'd make local libraries more accessible and attractive, encourage book groups, and make reading a more social and supported activity - not just something done in isolation,” Bone added.</p>



<p>Those steps can lower barriers, especially where transportation or cost limits access to books.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-stakes-for-public-health">The stakes for public health</h2>



<p>“Reading has always been one of the more accessible ways to support well-being,” Fancourt said. “To see this kind of decline is concerning because the research is clear: reading is a vital health-enhancing behavior for every group within society, with benefits across the life-course.”</p>



<p>Reversing the slide will take more than nostalgia. It will require policies that protect library budgets, widen digital and physical access to books, and give families back a bit of free time. It will also take creative programs that make reading feel communal and joyful again.</p>



<p>The data show a country drifting away from a simple, proven habit. The choice now is whether to let that drift continue - or to rebuild the everyday moments that keep reading alive.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(25)01549-4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>iScience</em></a>.</p>



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America’s cultural crisis: Reading less, scrolling more

Americans are carving out far less time to read for...

<p>For centuries, humans have gazed into the night sky, wondering what lies beyond the planets we know. Each new discovery in the Solar System reshapes our sense of place in the cosmos.</p>



<p>Now, astronomers are once again pointing to the possibility of an unseen world - one that may be orbiting far beyond Neptune. This hypothetical body has been given the tentative name "Planet Y."</p>



<p>The idea of hidden <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mars-captured-in-true-color-like-youve-never-seen-the-red-planet-before/">planets</a> is not new. Astronomers once speculated about Planet X, which was believed to be seven times Earth’s mass and orbiting 50 times farther from the Sun than Earth.</p>



<p>That idea was mostly debunked. Later came Planet Nine, a still-viable candidate about 10 times Earth’s mass, at least 300 times farther from the Sun. Now, evidence is mounting for yet another contender.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-warped-orbits-suggest-hidden-planet">Warped orbits suggest hidden planet</h2>



<p>Amir Siraj at <a href="https://www.princeton.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Princeton University</a> and his colleagues suggest a new possibility. They noticed a warping effect in the orbits of some Kuiper belt objects, a distant region filled with icy remnants, including Pluto. </p>



<p>“If that warp is real, the simplest explanation is an undiscovered inclined planet,” Siraj said.</p>



<p>This <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/massive-earth-like-planet-may-be-hiding-just-beyond-neptune/">potential world</a> would be smaller than Earth but larger than Mercury, orbiting 100 to 200 times farther from the Sun than Earth does. </p>



<p>Its gravity seems to nudge nearby objects about 15 degrees out of the solar system’s flat plane, like ripples disturbing a lake’s surface.</p>



<p>“Our signal is modest, but credible,” Siraj said, estimating just a two to four percent chance of being a fluke. Early evidence for Planet Nine carried similar odds, though the signatures differ. </p>



<p>Planet Nine would tug objects toward it, while this “Planet Y” appears to tilt orbits out of alignment. In theory, both worlds could exist at once.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unexplained-kuiper-belt-tilt">Unexplained Kuiper belt tilt</h2>



<p>The new research shows that if no hidden planets exist, the average plane of the Kuiper belt should align with the invariable plane of the solar system.</p>



<p> However, astronomers now detect a clear warp between 80 and 200 astronomical units (AU).</p>



<p>This tilt is unlikely to be primordial, since natural orbital precession would erase it in less than 100 million years. For the warp to persist, something must be maintaining it - such as the gravity of a hidden planet.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-the-kuiper-belt">Understanding the Kuiper Belt</h2>



<p>The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/streaming-instability-hypothesis-altjira-system-kuiper-belt-hubble-three-body-system/">Kuiper Belt</a> is a vast region of space that lies just beyond Neptune, stretching from about 30 to 55 times the distance between Earth and the Sun. </p>



<p>Think of it as a cosmic neighborhood filled with icy bodies, leftover building blocks from the early solar system. </p>



<p>These objects never formed into a planet because Neptune’s gravity stirred things up, keeping them scattered. </p>



<p>Some are as small as a mountain, while others, like Pluto, are large enough to be considered dwarf planets. The Kuiper Belt is also the source of many comets that swing into the inner solar system.</p>



<p>The objects out there are made of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/eris-and-makemake-icy-dwarf-planets-in-our-own-solar-system-may-support-life/">ice, rock, and frozen gases</a> - substances that have barely changed in billions of years - making it like an enormous time capsule, preserving materials from the solar system’s earliest days.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-possible-planet-y-scenarios">Possible Planet Y scenarios</h2>



<p>Jonti Horner at the <a href="https://www.unisq.edu.au" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Southern Queensland</a> in Australia sees this as possible.</p>



<p>“It plays into the fact that we simply don’t know what’s out there. It’s only in the last couple of decades that we’ve really started to explore the space beyond Neptune,” he said.</p>



<p>Astronomers believe such planets might not have formed so far from the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/widest-high-resolution-photo-of-the-sun-ever-captured-solar-orbiter/">Sun</a>. Instead, they could have been scattered outward early in the Solar System’s history. “Scattering seems more likely,” Horner said.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-models-support-planet-y-theory">Models support Planet Y theory</h2>



<p>Numerical experiments suggest that a planet with a mass between <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/is-there-life-on-mercury-possibly-in-the-planets-craters-study-reveals/">Mercury</a> and Earth, an orbit of roughly 100 to 200 AU, and an inclination greater than 10 degrees could maintain the observed warp.</p>



<p>Lower-mass bodies like Pluto could contribute, but far less effectively. Planets more massive than Earth would cause distortions in nearer regions, making them poor fits for the data.</p>



<p>The proposed Planet Y differs from Planet Nine in both location and influence. Planet Nine, if real, is thought to explain the clustering of orbital paths at great distances. Planet Y, by contrast, would explain why the Kuiper belt’s average plane is warped.</p>



<p>“The signature is different,” Siraj said, emphasizing that both ideas could coexist without contradiction.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-search-for-hidden-worlds-continues">Search for hidden worlds continues</h2>



<p>The outer solar system is one of astronomy’s greatest frontiers, and the next decade promises breakthroughs. </p>



<p>The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/first-images-from-the-vera-c-rubin-observatory-are-breathtaking/">Vera C. Rubin Observatory</a> will soon begin its 10-year survey, mapping the night sky in unprecedented detail. This facility could spot Planet Y directly or confirm indirect signs of its influence.</p>



<p>“Rubin will rapidly expand the catalog of well-measured trans-Neptunian objects,” Siraj said. If Planet Y exists, “within the survey’s first few years” we may either see it or gather stronger proof of its gravitational effects.</p>



<p>For now, Planet Y remains hypothetical, a hint drawn from subtle orbital patterns. But history shows that careful attention to small irregularities can reveal great discoveries. </p>



<p>From Neptune’s prediction in the 19th century to Pluto’s identification in the 20th, the search for hidden worlds has always reshaped our cosmic understanding. If Planet Y is real, it may soon step from speculation into fact.</p>



<p>The study is published in <a href="https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.14156" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>arXiv</em></a>.</p>



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Astronomers find signs of a new world called "Planet Y" hiding in our own Solar System

For centuries, humans have gazed into the night sky, wondering...

<p>For millions of Americans, daily life involves coping with altered vision, from blurriness to complete blindness. Glasses and contact lenses offer solutions, yet many prefer not to rely on them. </p>



<p>In response, hundreds of thousands turn to corrective eye surgeries every year. Among the most common is LASIK, a laser-assisted procedure that reshapes the cornea to sharpen sight.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-lasik-has-limits">Why LASIK has limits</h2>



<p>Although considered safe, LASIK comes with risks. Cutting into the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-eyes-retina-sync-everything-they-see-before-sending-visual-signals-to-the-brain/">cornea</a> weakens the eye’s structure and can cause unwanted side effects. Researchers are now working on a way to reshape the cornea without any incisions at all.</p>



<p>Michael Hill, a professor of chemistry at <a href="https://www.oxy.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Occidental College</a>, is presenting this new work at the <a href="https://www.acs.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Chemical Society</a>’s Fall 2025 meeting.</p>



<p>“LASIK is just a fancy way of doing traditional surgery. It’s still carving tissue - it’s just carving with a laser,” said Hill. The new method asks a simple question: what if reshaping the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/eye-strain-in-young-adults-is-linked-to-the-type-of-content-consumed/">cornea</a> required no cutting?</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-discovery-of-a-lasik-alternative">Discovery of a LASIK alternative </h2>



<p>Hill and collaborator Brian Wong, a professor and surgeon at the&nbsp;<a href="https://uci.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of California, Irvine</a>, are exploring electromechanical reshaping (EMR). </p>



<p>“The whole effect was discovered by accident. I was looking at living tissues as moldable materials and discovered this whole process of chemical modification,” noted Wong.</p>



<p>The team's approach relies on the chemistry of collagen-rich tissues, which hold their shape through charged molecular bonds and high water content. </p>



<p>By applying an electric potential, the experts can temporarily loosen these bonds, making the tissue malleable. Restoring the original conditions then locks in the new form.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-electric-reshaping-on-corneas">Electric reshaping on corneas</h2>



<p>Electromechanical reshaping (EMR) was first tested on animal tissues like rabbit ears and pig skin, where it successfully reshaped cartilage and reduced scars. Because the cornea is also rich in collagen, the researchers saw it as an ideal next step.</p>



<p>The team designed platinum “contact lenses” that could act as electrodes, providing both a template for the desired curvature and a tool to deliver a controlled electric current. </p>



<p>In experiments, these lenses were placed on rabbit eyeballs immersed in a saline solution that mimicked natural tears. When a small electric charge was applied, the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/your-eyes-vision-could-alert-you-to-dementia-alzheimers-disease-up-to-12-years-earlier/">cornea</a> softened and quickly molded itself to the shape of the lens.</p>



<p>Within just a minute, the cornea had adopted its new curvature. This was comparable in speed to LASIK surgery but did not involve cutting, required simpler tools, and avoided risks linked to incisions, making it a promising alternative for future vision correction.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-testing-on-rabbit-eyes">Testing on rabbit eyes</h2>



<p>The team ran trials on 12 rabbit eyeballs, simulating myopia in most of them. In every case, the treatment adjusted the focusing power toward clearer vision. The corneal cells survived, thanks to careful control of pH gradients.</p>



<p>Beyond vision correction, EMR showed potential in reversing certain types of corneal cloudiness. Currently, that condition can only be treated with a full transplant, making this approach especially promising.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hurdles-before-human-trials">Hurdles before human trials</h2>



<p>Despite encouraging results, research on this LASIK alternative remains at an early stage. Wong emphasized that the next steps involve “the long march through animal studies that are detailed and precise,” including experiments on living rabbits.</p>



<p>The team also wants to map the full range of corrections EMR could offer, from astigmatism to farsightedness. But scientific funding uncertainties have slowed progress. </p>



<p>“There’s a long road between what we’ve done and the clinic. But, if we get there, this technique is widely applicable, vastly cheaper and potentially even reversible,” noted Hill.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looking-forward">Looking forward</h2>



<p>If electromechanical reshaping proves successful, it could transform vision correction by eliminating the need for surgical cuts. The method uses electricity to gently reshape the cornea, offering a safer and less invasive option. </p>



<p>Unlike LASIK, it may lower risks and reduce costs. This innovation has the potential to make clearer <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/long-space-missions-in-microgravity-take-a-toll-on-astronauts-eyes/">vision</a> accessible to more people while preserving the eye’s natural strength and structure.</p>



<p>Ultimately, the study represents a shift in how vision correction could be approached in the future.</p>



<p>The research was supported by the <a href="https://www.nei.nih.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Eye Institute</a> of the National Institutes of Health and the John Stauffer Charitable Trust. </p>



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LASIK alternative reshapes vision with electricity, not lasers

For millions of Americans, daily life involves coping with altered...

<p>A team using <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/garden-sprinkler-s-shaped-jet-found-distant-neutron-star-circinus-x1/">MeerKAT in South Africa</a> spotted a new repeating source of short, sharp radio pulses and, within days, tracked it through an intense outburst that produced hundreds of events across multiple frequency bands.</p>



<p>These bursts belong to a class known as fast radio burst (<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/farthest-known-fast-radio-burst-traced-to-rare-cluster-of-galaxies/">FRB</a>) events, which last only milliseconds and come from far beyond our galaxy, with properties that let astronomers study matter scattered across the universe.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-capturing-the-radio-bursts">Capturing the radio bursts</h2>



<p>Lead author <a href="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1914-877X" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jun Tian</a> of the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics at The University of Manchester (<a href="https://www.jodrellbank.manchester.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">JBCA</a>) and collaborators in the MeerTRAP project used MeerKAT’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-detect-more-than-20-mysterious-radio-signals-from-space/">real time system</a> to search for fast transients while other observations were running.</p>



<p>“FRB 20240619D was first discovered on 2024 June 19 with three bursts being detected within two minutes in the MeerKAT L-band,” wrote Tian. </p>



<p>A week later, the team followed up across ultra high frequency, L band, and S band and recorded a total of 249 bursts.</p>



<p>That pace puts the source among the most active repeaters seen so far, and it gives scientists a rare chance to compare how burst counts change with observing frequency in the same time window.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-the-radio-bursts-revealed">What the radio bursts revealed</h2>



<p>The catalog shows a clear frequency preference during the campaign, with far more activity centered in the L band than at lower or higher radio frequencies, a clue that the burst energy distribution turns over near that range.</p>



<p>Individual pulses are often confined to slices of the band rather than filling the entire tuning, and some show substructures that drift downward in frequency over time, a pattern common in repeaters and important for modeling the emission region.</p>



<p>In several other <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/glitching-star-explains-cosmic-radio-bursts/">repeaters</a>, microsecond and even nanosecond scale features have been measured, pointing to compact emission zones and rapid variability that are hard to reconcile with distant shock models.</p>



<p>The new source adds to that picture by presenting complex, sometimes <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deep-space-radio-burst-frb-20220610a-reaches-earth-after-8-billion-year-journey/">multi-component bursts</a> that change their frequency drift from one sub burst to the next, which strengthens the case for small scale structure close to the engine.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-polarization-plays-a-role">Polarization plays a role</h2>



<p>Polarimetric data show most bursts are nearly fully linearly polarized, with a significant minority carrying measurable circular polarization, a combination that narrows the viable physical models for where and how these pulses arise.</p>



<p>Highly ordered polarization and fast microstructure often point to emission produced in or very near the magnetic environment of a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/unusual-activity-detected-from-earths-closest-magnetar/">magnetar</a>, rather than far from the star in an external shock, as seen in other active repeaters.</p>



<p>Across the pulse window, the polarization angle can stay flat, swing smoothly, or jump between levels, which hints at dynamic geometry or propagation effects in the local plasma around the source.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-no-optical-flash-tighter-limits">No optical flash, tighter limits</h2>



<p>Alongside the radio work, the team coordinated optical observations with the <a href="https://astro.ru.nl/blackgem/?page_id=76" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MeerLICHT</a> telescope and reported a stringent upper limit on any simultaneous optical flash at the burst times&nbsp;</p>



<p>“We find no optical counterpart of FRB 20240619D in the MeerLICHT optical observations,” wrote Tian.</p>



<p>For context, independent programs have been pushing optical searches to millisecond time resolution and are beginning to set even deeper fluence ratio limits in other repeating sources. </p>



<p>This helps to rule out bright optical companions to the radio bursts on those time scales.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-the-source">Tracking the source</h2>



<p>Astronomers have long debated whether repeating and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fast-radio-burst-frb-20240209a-detected-from-dead-galaxy-should-not-be-possible/">non-repeating FRBs</a> come from the same kind of source or if they reflect different origins. </p>



<p>Some models suggest highly magnetized neutron stars undergoing starquakes, while others point to interactions between compact objects in binary systems. </p>



<p>The extreme activity of <a href="https://www.wis-tns.org/object/FRB20240619D/discovery-cert" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">FRB 20240619D</a> gives researchers a chance to test these ideas against detailed data.</p>



<p>Earlier repeaters such as <a href="https://www.wis-tns.org/object/FRB20121102A/discovery-cert" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">FRB 20121102A</a> and <a href="https://www.wis-tns.org/object/FRB20201124A/discovery-cert" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">FRB 20201124A</a> also produced storms of hundreds of bursts per hour, and the similarities between them and the new source could mean there is a common underlying mechanism. </p>



<p>Careful comparison of their timing, polarization, and frequency behavior will be crucial for narrowing down which physical processes are responsible.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-deep-space-radio-bursts-matter">Why deep space radio bursts matter</h2>



<p>By capturing hundreds of radio bursts in a very short period of time, the well documented campaign lets researchers take several important steps. </p>



<p>They can test how burst counts scale with radio fluence, measure dispersion measure and rotation measure precisely, and compare activity across frequencies without months of waiting.</p>



<p>Because FRBs accumulate signals as they cross intergalactic space, they can trace otherwise invisible ionized gas, so tracking their activity and pinpointing hosts helps map the cosmic web and its <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deep-space-radio-burst-frb-20220610a-reaches-earth-after-8-billion-year-journey/">missing baryons</a>.</p>



<p>The study is published in <a href="https://academic.oup.com/mnras/article/540/2/1685/8131527" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society</em></a>.</p>



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Repetitive radio bursts from deep space hit Earth hundreds of times in a matter of minutes

A team using MeerKAT in South Africa spotted a new...

<p>The brain plays a constant role in managing blood sugar, one of the body’s most vital energy sources. Every cell depends on glucose, and it’s the brain that helps prevent levels from rising too high or dropping too low.</p>



<p>For years, researchers have understood how the nervous system responds in emergencies like fasting or sudden dips in sugar, but its role in everyday control hasn’t been as clear. </p>



<p>That gap in knowledge has left big questions about how the body keeps itself stable from one day to the next. It also explains why even small disruptions in this system can set the stage for health problems over time.</p>



<p>Recent work shows that specific neurons in the brain take on the everyday task of keeping <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/squats-vs-walking-the-definitive-winner-for-reducing-blood-sugar/">blood sugar</a> steady under normal conditions. It’s another important clue to how the brain helps the body maintain its energy balance.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-master-regulator-in-the-brain">A master regulator in the brain</h2>



<p>The hypothalamus, a small region deep in the brain, is already known as a master regulator. It controls <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/our-brain-has-a-meal-memory-that-controls-hunger/">hunger</a>, temperature, fear responses, and even <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/does-your-finger-length-predict-sexual-behavior-a-rat-study-says-yes/">sexual behavior</a>. </p>



<p>Within it lies the ventromedial nucleus, a hub that past studies linked to raising blood sugar during stressful events. What scientists wanted to know was whether this region also contributes during calm, routine conditions - like sleep.</p>



<p>The answer, it turns out, is yes. Researchers at the University of Michigan’s <a href="https://diabetes.med.umich.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Caswell Diabetes Institute</a> have pinpointed a set of neurons, called VMHCckbr neurons, that take on this task. </p>



<p>These cells contain a protein known as the cholecystokinin b receptor, and their role becomes especially important overnight.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-night-shift-for-neurons">Night shift for neurons</h2>



<p>By studying mice, the team discovered that VMHCckbr neurons spring into action in the first few hours after bedtime. </p>



<p>Study co-author Dr. Alison Affinati described the important role of the neurons - which act as a safety net that operates while we sleep.</p>



<p>“In the first four hours after you go to bed, these neurons ensure that you have enough glucose so that you don't become hypoglycemic overnight,” explained Dr. Affinati.</p>



<p>The process works through <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/late-morning-exercise-may-burn-more-fat/">fat metabolism</a>. The neurons signal the body to start lipolysis, breaking down stored fat into glycerol. That glycerol is then converted into sugar, helping keep glucose levels stable until morning.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-blood-sugar-control-at-night">Blood sugar control at night</h2>



<p>To test how crucial these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/first-complete-map-of-every-neuron-in-the-brain-revealed/">neurons</a> are, the researchers turned them off in mouse models. When silenced, blood sugar control faltered during the early fasting hours of the night. </p>



<p>On the other hand, when the neurons were activated, glycerol levels rose, confirming their role in fueling overnight glucose production.</p>



<p>This activity may also shed light on prediabetes. People with prediabetes often show an increase in nighttime lipolysis. The study suggests that overactive VMHCckbr neurons could be part of the reason their blood sugar runs high.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-than-a-simple-switch">More than a simple switch</h2>



<p>“Our studies show that the control of glucose is not an on-or-off switch as previously thought,” said Dr. Affinati. </p>



<p>“Different populations of neurons work together, and everything gets turned on in an emergency. However, under routine conditions, it allows for subtle changes.”</p>



<p>This layered system ensures flexibility. One group of neurons may control fat breakdown, while others likely fine-tune sugar balance through different mechanisms involving the liver or pancreas. </p>



<p>That teamwork allows the body to adjust to different states - eating, fasting, or stress - without slipping into dangerous extremes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-brain-s-next-puzzle">The brain’s next puzzle</h2>



<p>Scientists now aim to determine how all the various neurons in the ventromedial nucleus fit together. One part of that is mapping how brain signals feed into the liver and pancreas, which are key players in maintaining blood sugar levels. </p>



<p>Dissecting these connections could ultimately lead to new ways to attack metabolic disorders like <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/exercise-can-counteract-the-genetic-risk-for-diabetes/">diabetes</a>, which afflicts millions of individuals.</p>



<p>What this research makes unmistakably clear is that blood sugar regulation is not all about crises - it's something the brain is doing every day. </p>



<p>When we’re asleep, these neurons work quietly in the background, keeping balance so we have the fuel that we need in the morning.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S2212877825001231">Molecular Metabolism</a></em>.</p>



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How blood sugar stays steady overnight: Hidden network revealed

The brain plays a constant role in managing blood sugar,...

<p>Giraffes are instantly recognizable with their tall necks, patterned coats, and slow strides across African plains. For a long time, scientists believed they were all one species. New research shows that’s not the case.</p>



<p>A detailed analysis shows that giraffes aren’t one single group, but four separate species. This discovery reshapes conservation and forces a fresh look at Africa’s most iconic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/world-giraffe-day-2025-calls-for-urgent-action-to-save-giraffes/">animal</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-discovery-of-four-giraffe-species">Discovery of four giraffe species</h2>



<p>After years of genetic <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/giraffes-have-gut-bacteria-that-are-unaffected-by-their-diet/#google_vignette">analysis</a>, researchers have identified four distinct giraffe species. These include Northern giraffes, reticulated giraffes, Masai giraffes, and Southern giraffes.</p>



<p>Michael Brown from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (<a href="https://iucn.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">IUCN</a>) explained why the split matters. </p>



<p>“Each species has different population sizes, threats and conservation needs,” said Brown. “When you lump giraffes all together, it muddies the narrative.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-giraffes-face-various-threats">Giraffes face various threats</h2>



<p>Northern and Masai giraffes face very different pressures. Northern giraffes live in South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Central African Republic, where conflict and poaching continue to shrink their populations. </p>



<p>Masai giraffes in Kenya and Tanzania confront another problem - rapid habitat loss. Expanding farms and cattle grazing steadily replace open savannas, leaving less room for giraffes to roam. </p>



<p>These contrasting threats highlight why conservation cannot treat all giraffes as one group.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unique-conservation-needs-of-giraffes">Unique conservation needs of giraffes</h2>



<p>Each species lives in unique conditions, shaped by political, social, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/giraffes-hate-slopes-and-its-threatening-their-survival/">environmental factors</a>, and each requires tailored strategies to prevent further decline and secure its future in the wild.</p>



<p>In Uganda’s Kidepo Valley National Park, Northern giraffes show just how fragile the situation has become. </p>



<p>Stuart Pimm, an ecologist from <a href="https://duke.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Duke University</a>, praised the new classification. “Considering four giraffe species is absolutely the right decision, and it’s long overdue,” he said.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-modern-science-reveals-differences">Modern science reveals differences</h2>



<p>Old studies focused on the giraffe’s coat. Spots seemed like a clue, but they were not considered strong enough evidence to define multiple species.</p>



<p>In more recent studies, researchers used genetic sequencing and skull comparisons to find differences. Even the giraffe’s bony head protrusions, often mistaken for horns, carry distinctions.</p>



<p>The task force behind the current study argued that taxonomy is never just academic. It shapes how funds get used, how laws protect animals, and how people understand risk. Getting the classification wrong means protecting the wrong populations.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genetics-reshape-giraffe-conservation">Genetics reshape giraffe conservation</h2>



<p>Stephanie Fennessy from the&nbsp;<a href="https://giraffeconservation.org/">Giraffe Conservation Foundation</a>&nbsp;highlighted how falling sequencing costs transformed giraffe research. Two decades ago, analyzing a single genome cost tens of thousands of dollars, making large-scale studies nearly impossible. </p>



<p>Today, the cost is around $100, a dramatic drop that opened access for nonprofit groups and conservationists. </p>



<p>With this affordability, researchers gathered over 2,000 genetic samples from giraffes across Africa, building a vast dataset that reshaped understanding of giraffe diversity. But the assessment emphasized that genetics alone cannot carry the burden of taxonomy.</p>



<p>Strong conclusions need multiple forms of evidence. Anatomy, such as skull differences, and ecological patterns, like habitat ranges, must align with genetic data to build a reliable picture. If classifications depend only on one source, conservation planning risks misdirection. </p>



<p>By combining disciplines, scientists ensure that strategies reflect reality, giving giraffes a better chance at survival in an increasingly pressured environment.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-population-counts-show-urgency">Population counts show urgency</h2>



<p>Population counts reveal the stakes. Northern <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/giraffes-are-suffering-a-silent-extinction-and-need-more-protection/">giraffes</a> are the scarcest, with around 7,000 left. "It’s one of the most threatened large mammals in the world,” said Fennessy. </p>



<p>Reticulated giraffes number around 21,000, while Masai giraffes total nearly 44,000. Southern giraffes have the strongest population, with about 69,000 individuals remaining.</p>



<p>These numbers show why the new classification matters. Without separating species, losses in one group hide behind stability in another. With clarity, strategies can actually match the dangers each group faces.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-protecting-giraffes-individually">Protecting giraffes individually</h2>



<p>The story of giraffes and their conservation is no longer simple. “If not all giraffes are the same, then we have to protect them individually," said Fennessy.</p>



<p>A change in perspective could determine giraffes’ future in Africa - either remaining a familiar presence or vanishing from the wild. </p>



<p>Science now provides conservationists with stronger tools to act. The pressing challenge is simple yet urgent: will these tools be applied effectively before it becomes too late?</p>



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Recognizing different giraffe species is crucial for conservation

Giraffes are instantly recognizable with their tall necks, patterned coats,...

<p>Extinction stories are not just about the past. They tell us how fragile survival can be. The cave bear that once dominated Europe was adaptable, widespread, and seemed secure. Yet around 25,000 years ago it disappeared.</p>



<p>Cave <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/polar-bear-cubs-are-emerging-earlier-from-dens/">bears</a> vanished after climate change, dwindling resources, and human pressure collided. This deadly mix shows survival requires more than adaptability. </p>



<p>Modern bears now face similar overlapping threats. Their future depends on reducing these pressures before resilience alone proves insufficient - as history already warned with the extinction of cave bears.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-cave-bear-bones-revealed">What cave bear bones revealed</h2>



<p>The study was led by <a href="https://www.uclan.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Central Lancashire</a>&nbsp;archaeologist Dr. Jennifer Jones, along with colleagues from Spain, Serbia, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University College London</a>. </p>



<p>The team examined cave bear remains from Šalitrena Pećina in Serbia. The bones, more than 40,000 years old, still held chemical traces of the bears’ diets.</p>



<p>The study overturned old assumptions, showing cave bears were flexible eaters. Instead of relying on one food, they consumed plants from forests, open landscapes, and even lichens. </p>



<p>This adaptability should have improved their survival odds, yet environmental upheaval and human pressures proved stronger than their dietary range.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-adaptable-but-not-invincible">Adaptable but not invincible</h2>



<p>During the last Ice Age, Europe’s climate shifted dramatically, with colder temperatures, longer winters, and shrinking vegetation reduced food supplies.</p>



<p>At the same time, humans expanded into their <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/brown-bears-move-where-their-food-grows/">habitats</a>, competing for shelter and hunting bears. Neanderthals and modern humans occupied caves once essential for hibernation. </p>



<p>Predators like hyenas further stressed populations by preying on vulnerable cubs. Each threat alone might have been manageable, but together they overwhelmed even a resilient species. </p>



<p>The combination of climate stress, human pressure, and natural predation pushed cave bears past their survival threshold.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pressure-from-every-side">Pressure from every side</h2>



<p>"Our study found that cave bears were flexible and could adapt to local conditions, much more so than previously thought. But when large-scale climate change was combined with human expansion, even a resilient species couldn't cope," said Dr. Jones. </p>



<p>"This should serve as a warning for us as we explore ways of protecting endangered bears today."</p>



<p>Cave bears were strong, but they were not immune. Humans occupied caves, cut into their territory, and hunted them. The bears’ story is not just about climate, but about pressure from every side.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-modern-bears-at-risk">Modern bears at risk</h2>



<p>Today, six out of eight bear <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/grizzly-bears-help-huckleberries-thrive-in-a-changing-climate/">species</a> face the same kind of squeeze. In Europe, only about 17,000 to 20,000 brown bears remain. They live across more than 20 countries, but in small, scattered groups. Some survive in mountains, others in forest patches, but few live in strong connected populations.</p>



<p>Habitat loss, poaching, and conflict with humans keep pushing them back. Climate change adds new stress. Isolation weakens their genetic strength. Every problem stacks on top of the last. </p>



<p>Groups like the&nbsp;International Union for Conservation of Nature (<a href="https://www.iucn.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">IUCN</a>)&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">World Wildlife Fund</a>&nbsp;track these populations and warn of their growing vulnerability.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lessons-for-bear-survival">Lessons for bear survival</h2>



<p>The cave bear’s extinction reveals that survival collapses under overlapping pressures, not a single cause. Climate, habitat loss, and human conflict together prove fatal. </p>



<p>Today, brown bears and their relatives face the same dangerous mix, standing at a crossroads where combined threats could decide their future survival.</p>



<p>"We need to recognize that adaptability isn't enough for bear species to survive, if the threats against them continue to mount," said Dr. Jones.  </p>



<p>"The more pressure that we pile on today's wildlife like aggressive habitat loss, climate change and ongoing human conflicts, the smaller their chance of survival is."</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-urgent-action-needed-to-protect-bears">Urgent action needed to protect bears </h2>



<p>The past makes one point clear. Protecting today’s bears means lifting some of the heavy weight. That includes bigger habitats, safer food sources, and less conflict with humans. </p>



<p>The study on cave bear extinction shows what happens when every margin of survival is erased. If we want brown bears to endure, the time to act is now.</p>



<p>Organizations like <a href="https://rewildingeurope.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rewilding Europe</a>&nbsp;already work to secure habitats and reconnect populations, but much more remains to be done.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14614103.2025.2521944" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Environmental Archaeology</a></em>.</p>



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Extinct cave bears reveal threats to modern bears

Extinction stories are not just about the past. They tell...

<p>A burst of radio energy from deep space just set a new record. It was brighter than anything like it ever seen before - and it came from a galaxy only 130 million light-years away. That’s unusually close by cosmic standards. </p>



<p>The burst, known as a fast radio burst or FRB, lasted just a few milliseconds but packed enough power to outshine entire galaxies in radio light.</p>



<p>This one was so intense, scientists gave it a nickname: RBFLOAT - short for “radio brightest flash of all time.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-a-fast-radio-burst">What is a fast radio burst?</h2>



<p>A <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fast-radio-bursts-from-space-may-be-signs-of-alien-life/">fast radio burst</a> is a short, intense spike of radio waves that lasts only a few milliseconds. That’s a thousandth of a second. But in that split second, it can outshine entire galaxies in the radio part of the spectrum. </p>



<p>FRBs have been baffling astronomers since they were first discovered in 2007. Nobody knows for sure what causes them. But this new detection could finally help change that.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-rbfloat-is-a-big-deal">Why RBFLOAT is a big deal</h2>



<p>The burst was detected by an international team using a network of radio telescopes known as CHIME - short for Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment - and a new system called the CHIME Outriggers. </p>



<p>The Outriggers, located at separate sites across North America, give the main CHIME telescope a powerful upgrade. Together, they allow astronomers to pinpoint exactly where a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/spacexs-starlink-satellites-leak-radio-signals-that-threaten-to-ruin-astronomy/">radio signal</a> came from. This precision made all the difference. </p>



<p>On March 16, 2025, CHIME picked up an ultra-bright flash. It was so bright, in fact, that scientists weren’t sure if it was coming from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deep-space-radio-burst-frb-20220610a-reaches-earth-after-8-billion-year-journey/">deep space</a> or just a burst of radio interference here on Earth.</p>



<p>But the CHIME Outriggers quickly narrowed it down: the signal came from a galaxy called NGC 4141, located in the constellation Ursa Major.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-do-the-bursts-come-from">Where do the bursts come from?</h2>



<p>The burst came from the outer edge of the galaxy - right near a region where new stars are being born. This area is hot, chaotic, and full of activity, which makes it a prime candidate for violent events like FRBs.</p>



<p>The current leading theory is that FRBs come from <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/huge-outbursts-from-quiet-magnetars-have-a-surprising-source/">magnetars</a> - a type of neutron star with insanely strong magnetic fields. These stars are known for producing powerful flares, especially when they’re young. </p>



<p>Because the burst came from just outside the star-forming region, it might have been produced by a magnetar that’s slightly older than most and had more time to develop.</p>



<p>“These are mostly hints,” said Kiyoshi Masui, associate professor of physics at <a href="https://web.mit.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MIT</a>. “But the precise localization of this burst is letting us dive into the details of how old an FRB source could be."</p>



<p>"If it were right in the middle, it would only be thousands of years old - very young for a star. This one, being on the edge, may have had a little more time to bake.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-eyes-on-the-sky">New eyes on the sky</h2>



<p>CHIME was originally built to map <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/massive-star-forming-hydrogen-cloud-discovered-surprisingly-close-to-earth-eos/">hydrogen</a> in space. But over time, it became clear that the telescope was picking up something else: FRBs. </p>



<p>Since 2018, CHIME has detected about 4,000 fast radio bursts. However, until recently, it couldn’t tell exactly where the bursts were coming from.</p>



<p>That changed with the addition of the CHIME Outriggers - smaller versions of the telescope placed in different locations. When a flash is picked up, all of the telescopes work together to trace it back to a specific location in the sky.</p>



<p>“Imagine we are in New York and there’s a firefly in Florida that is bright for a thousandth of a second, which is usually how quick FRBs are,” said Shion Andrew, a graduate student at MIT’s Kavli Institute. </p>



<p>“Localizing an FRB to a specific part of its host galaxy is analogous to figuring out not just what tree the firefly came from, but which branch it’s sitting on.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-diversity-of-fast-radio-bursts">Diversity of fast radio bursts</h2>



<p>Once they had locked in the location of RBFLOAT, scientists went back through six years of CHIME data to see if anything similar had been seen before in the same spot. Nothing was found. That puts RBFLOAT firmly in the “one-off” category - a burst that flares once and then goes silent.</p>



<p>“Right now we’re in the middle of this story of whether repeating and nonrepeating FRBs are different. These observations are putting together bits and pieces of the puzzle,” said Masui.</p>



<p>That’s a major question in FRB science: are the ones that repeat caused by something different than the one-time flashes? This discovery doesn’t answer that question - but it gives researchers a big piece of evidence to work with. </p>



<p>Because it’s so bright and close, they can study the area around the burst in greater detail than ever before.</p>



<p>“There’s evidence to suggest that not all FRB progenitors are the same,” said Andrew. “We’re on track to localize hundreds of FRBs every year. The hope is that a larger sample of FRBs localized to their host environments can help reveal the full diversity of these populations.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-race-to-understand-frbs">The race to understand FRBs</h2>



<p>For now, scientists are digging deeper into the data - studying not just the burst itself, but also its environment, its galaxy, and any signs of activity that might hint at what caused it. </p>



<p>The discovery of RBFLOAT doesn’t solve the FRB mystery, but it’s one of the clearest clues yet.</p>



<p>The more fast radio bursts that scientists find and locate, the closer they’ll get to cracking the code. And with CHIME and its new Outriggers up and running, the race is on.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/adf62f" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Astrophysical Journal Letters</a></em>.</p>



<p>Image Credit: Danielle Futselaar</p>



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Astronomers spot the brightest fast radio burst on record

A burst of radio energy from deep space just set...

<p>From the songs of dawn to the soaring silhouettes over oceans, birds often inspire us with grace and freedom. Yet, beyond their beauty lies a deeper role: they act as movers of nutrients, linking land, sea, and sky. </p>



<p>Just as whales recycle nutrients through their excretions, seabirds may quietly influence <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seabird-flights-and-amazing-feeding-behavior-in-the-ocean-captured-with-tiny-cameras/">marine life</a> with something far less glamorous: their droppings.</p>



<p>While bird guano has long been known as a rich fertilizer for land and coastal ecosystems, what happens in the open sea is still a mystery. </p>



<p>Researchers recently turned their eyes to an unlikely subject, bathroom habits of seabirds far from shore. What they uncovered sheds light on how even the smallest actions can ripple across vast ecosystems.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-seabirds-that-only-poop-midair">Seabirds that only poop midair</h2>



<p>On Japan’s remote islands, researchers noticed something unusual about streaked shearwaters. Instead of relieving themselves while floating, these seabirds poop midair. </p>



<p>The study revealed that the birds follow this routine every 4 to 10 minutes. This aerial approach may keep them clean and at the same time fertilize the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plastic-is-harming-seabirds-even-more-than-we-realized/">ocean</a> below.</p>



<p>Study lead author Leo Uesaka from the <a href="https://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Tokyo</a> explained that the initial focus of the research had nothing to do with bird waste. </p>



<p>“I was studying how seabirds run on sea surface to take off,” said Uesaka. “While watching the video, I was surprised that they dropped feces very frequently. I thought it was funny at first, but it turned out to be more interesting and important for marine ecology.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-seabird-poop-and-ocean-nutrients">Seabird poop and ocean nutrients</h2>



<p>Seabird droppings are rich in nitrogen and phosphorus. On land, they enhance soils and boost coastal ecosystems. Yet, their impact at sea remains less explored. </p>



<p>Streaked shearwaters and their relatives, with populations totaling around 424 million, may deliver a steady nutrient supply to the open <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/seabirds-have-highly-sensitive-beaks-to-locate-food/">ocean</a>. These nutrients support plankton - the foundation of marine life.</p>



<p>The new study compared this process to the “whale pump,” in which whales recycle nutrients through their excretion.</p>



<p>Just like whales, vast seabird populations may shape marine productivity through their waste. This makes their periodic bathroom habits more than just a quirk - they could influence entire food webs.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-seabirds-avoid-pooping-in-water">Seabirds avoid pooping in water</h2>



<p>The team strapped tiny backward-facing cameras, the size of erasers, to 15 shearwaters. They recorded nearly 200 bathroom events. </p>



<p>The footage showed that the birds usually relieved themselves after takeoff. Some even took off briefly just to poop, returning to the water moments later.</p>



<p>Interestingly, nearly all excretion occurred midair. Only one recorded event happened while floating. This suggests the birds actively avoid releasing waste on the surface. </p>



<p>Researchers believe this may help seabirds keep feathers clean, reduce pathogen risks, avoid predators, and release nutrients into the ocean. The flight posture may also make it easier to exert gut pressure compared to floating.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-patterns-and-body-weight">Patterns and body weight</h2>



<p>“Streaked shearwaters have very long and narrow wings, good for gliding, not flapping,” said Uesaka. </p>



<p>“They have to flap their wings vigorously to take off, which exhausts them. This means the risk of excreting on the sea surface outweighs the effort to take off. There must be a strong reason behind that.”</p>



<p>The research uncovered another surprising detail: the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/shrinking-sea-ice-makes-it-harder-for-seabirds-to-find-food/">birds</a> kept a steady rhythm, often every few minutes, regardless of how much time passed after eating. Each bird excreted about 30 grams per hour, more than 5% of its body weight. </p>



<p>That rapid loss could help lighten their load mid-flight, making gliding more efficient. This finding challenges earlier land-based estimates, which suggested lower excretion rates.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-ecosystems">Implications for ecosystems</h2>



<p>While the waste of a single bird seems trivial, the collective output of millions becomes immense. Their droppings may transport nutrients far from breeding colonies, enriching distant ocean waters. This influence might be crucial in areas where seabirds gather in large numbers.</p>



<p>The study also raises a health dimension. Seabird feces can carry pathogens like avian influenza. If excreted in shared feeding grounds, they might spread diseases across colonies. </p>



<p>This possibility highlights how seabird behavior links not only to nutrient cycles but also to marine epidemiology.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-seabirds-and-hidden-nutrients">Seabirds and hidden nutrients</h2>



<p>“We don’t know why they keep this excretion rhythm, but there must be a reason,” said Uesaka. </p>



<p>He plans to expand studies with longer-lasting cameras and GPS to map where droppings fall at sea. "Feces are important. But people don’t really think about it," said Uesaka.</p>



<p>Ultimately, the study shows that even small, seemingly insignificant behaviors can shape ecosystems. What seems trivial may hold vital clues to how life sustains itself across the oceans.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/abstract/S0960-9822(25)00818-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Current Biology</a>.</em></p>



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Seabirds only poop when they are flying, and that's a great thing for the ocean

From the songs of dawn to the soaring silhouettes over...

<p>Some of the first human settlers in the Americas carried more than primitive skills and tools, they also brought a small but powerful genetic variant called <em>MUC19</em>. </p>



<p>That gene fragment, inherited from an extinct hominin called Denisovans, appears to have helped early people cope with new diseases, foods, and landscapes.</p>



<p>In a new study, a team of scientists led by the University of Colorado Boulder (<a href="https://www.colorado.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CU Boulder</a>), with collaborators including <a href="https://www.brown.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brown University</a>, traced a Denisovan-derived variant of a gene called <em>MUC19</em> that is unusually common in people with Indigenous American ancestry.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-denisovans-gave-us-muc19">Denisovans gave us <em>MUC19</em></h2>



<p>“In terms of evolution, this is an incredible leap,” said Fernando Villanea, an assistant professor in the Anthropology department at CU Boulder and a lead author of the study. “It shows an amount of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/worlds-most-diverse-forests-are-failing-to-adapt-to-climate-change/">adaptation</a> and resilience within a population that is simply amazing.”</p>



<p>The result ties a deep past event to a much later journey. Long before humans crossed the Bering Strait ice corridors, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mysterious-denisovan-species-humans-lived-undisturbed-tibetan-plateau-160000-years/">Denisovans</a> and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-link-autism-to-neanderthal-dna-genetic-variants-found-in-modern-humans/">Neanderthals</a> interbred.</p>



<p>Later, Neanderthals and humans did the same. Along that chain, a Denisovan version of <em>MUC19</em> made its way into some human populations. Natural selection then favored it in the Americas.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-extinct-cousins-left-their-mark">Extinct cousins left their mark</h2>



<p>Denisovans were close cousins of both humans and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/dna-analysis-reveals-most-recent-modern-human-to-interbreed-with-neanderthals/">Neanderthals</a>. They ranged from Siberia south toward Oceania and west onto the Tibetan Plateau. </p>



<p>Fossil traces are sparse, and the first recognized Denisovan was identified only 15 years ago through DNA in a bone fragment.</p>



<p>Like Neanderthals, Denisovans likely had prominent brow ridges and lacked chins - we think. What we know much more about is their genetic legacy. </p>



<p>“We know more about their genomes and how their body chemistry behaves than we do about what they looked like,” Villanea said.</p>



<p>They left DNA behind in many modern people, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/discovery-evolution-not-random-can-be-predicted-pangenome-genetic-history/">shaping biology</a> from immunity to altitude tolerance.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-muc19-improved-human-health"><em>MUC19</em> improved human health</h2>



<p><em>MUC19</em> sits in a family of 22 mucin genes in mammals. These genes help build mucus, a frontline barrier that protects tissues and traps pathogens. </p>



<p>“It seems like <em>MUC19</em> has a lot of functional consequences for health, but we’re only starting to understand these genes,” said Villanea.</p>



<p>Earlier work showed Denisovans carried a distinctive <em>MUC19</em> sequence. Some modern humans inherited it. That kind of admixture was common in the ancient world. </p>



<p>While all modern humans carry some Neanderthal DNA, only about 5 percent of us have Denisovan genes in our blood.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dna-reveals-american-adaptation">DNA reveals American adaptation</h2>



<p>Villanea and co-lead author David Peede examined already published <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-does-genome-size-impact-evolutionary-success/">genomes</a> from people in Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, and Colombia. </p>



<p>They asked a simple question with big implications: Where is the Denisovan <em>MUC19</em> variant most common?</p>



<p>The answer pointed to the Americas. Roughly one in three people of Mexican ancestry carries a copy of the Denisovan <em>MUC19</em> variant. </p>



<p>The signal is strongest on genomic segments that reflect Indigenous American heritage. In contrast, only about 1 percent of people with Central European ancestry carry it.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-denisovan-core-neanderthal-shell">Denisovan core, Neanderthal shell</h2>



<p>The team found another twist. The Denisovan segment sits inside a larger stretch of Neanderthal-derived DNA. “This DNA is like an Oreo, with a Denisovan center and Neanderthal cookies,” Villanea said.</p>



<p>That sandwich points to the path this gene likely took. Denisovans first passed <em>MUC19</em> to Neanderthals. Later, Neanderthals passed that package to humans.</p>



<p>It is the first clear case of Denisovan DNA reaching humans through Neanderthals and not only through direct Denisovan-human mixing.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-first-settlers-in-the-americas">First settlers in the Americas</h2>



<p>After humans reached the Americas, selection seems to have boosted the Denisovan <em>MUC19.</em> Why here and not elsewhere? </p>



<p>The first Americans faced environments unlike any their ancestors had known. New pathogens, new foods, new seasons and new terrains.</p>



<p>A mucus-related gene that improved barrier defenses or mucosal health may have offered an edge.</p>



<p>“All of a sudden, people had to find new ways to hunt, new ways to farm, and they developed really cool technology in response to those challenges,” noted Villanea. “But over 20,000 years, their bodies were also adapting at a biological level.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ancient-genes-and-new-worlds">Ancient genes and new worlds</h2>



<p>The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/neanderthal-superhighways-through-eurasia-recreated-with-supercomputers/">migration</a> story spans ice, coastlines, and time. Early people moved from a shared ancestral population around the Bering Strait into a continent that contains rainforests, deserts, high mountains, and grasslands.</p>



<p>“What Indigenous American populations did was really incredible,” Villanea said. “They went from a common ancestor living around the Bering Strait to adapting biologically and culturally to this new continent that has every single type of biome in the world.”</p>



<p>Genes like <em>MUC19</em> offer a record of that adaptation. They capture how ancient encounters with cousins like Denisovans left tools that descendants later used.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-muc19-humans-and-the-future"><em>MUC19</em>, humans, and the future</h2>



<p>The team now wants to test what different versions of <em>MUC19</em> do in living people. </p>



<p>Does the Denisovan variant change mucus properties in the mouth, gut, or airways? Does it alter infection risk or inflammation? Those answers would connect a striking evolutionary story to present-day health.</p>



<p>For now, the lesson is broad. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-early-homo-species-discovered-lived-with-australopithecus-challenges-human-evolution-theory/">Human evolution</a> is not a straight line. It is a braided river with tributaries from Neanderthals and Denisovans. Some of those tributaries carried genes that mattered when humans stepped into a new world.</p>



<p>The first Americans adapted with ingenuity, culture, and technology - and, as this study shows, with a little help from very ancient DNA.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adl0882%C3%B9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Science</em></a>.</p>



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DNA from extinct human cousins helped early humans colonize the Americas

Some of the first human settlers in the Americas carried...

Silhouette,Business,People,Discussion,Communication,Meeting,Concept

<p>Body posture sends steady social signals. Long before anyone speaks, the way a person naturally stands can hint at how they see status, power, and the people around them. Not just in heated moments - your baseline stance matters.</p>



<p>Most research on posture looks at quick shifts tied to mood. This current study asked a different question: Are there trait-level differences in posture that stick over time and actually tell us something <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/psychologists-claim-the-7-38-55-rule-is-secret-to-exceptional-eq-emotional-intelligence/">about personality</a>?</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-linking-posture-to-social-personality">Linking posture to social personality</h2>



<p>The research tested whether <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-men-and-women-react-differently-to-stress/">individual differences</a> in everyday, natural posture relate to individual differences in personality. </p>



<p>In a large sample, the team tracked posture in neutral settings and linked those measures with attitudes toward competition, power, and social hierarchy.</p>



<p>The work was led by Soren Wanio-Theberge and Jorge Armony at <a href="https://www.mcgill.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">McGill University</a>, who have argued that body language connects directly to emotions; these studies put that idea in a more precise frame.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-social-mood-and-posture">Social mood and posture</h2>



<p>The relationship the authors describe reflects individual differences in <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36048034/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">postural dominance</a> and submission. </p>



<p>People vary in how “open” or “closed” they tend to hold themselves at rest, and those patterns align with how they think about social rank. </p>



<p>The work suggests that postural signaling of social rank occurs not only in brief displays but as a stable individual trait with consequences for <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/psychology/social-processing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">socioaffective processing</a>.</p>



<p>To ensure the posture measure was sound, the researchers validated it against physiological data from relevant musculature and showed that it remained stable over a one-month interval.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-they-measured-it">How they measured it</h2>



<p>Across the five studies, four relied on photos participants submitted of themselves standing in a natural pose. One brought participants to the lab for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/early-humans-felt-emotions-in-unusual-body-parts/">physiological measurements</a>. </p>



<p>In total, there were 608 young adult participants. Postural ratings across time tended to be stable, which supports the idea that baseline stance is more than a passing mood.</p>



<p>In one experiment, participants were instructed to pose in a dominant or submissive way. </p>



<p>In the submissive stance, they adopted a stooped, bent-forward posture. When instructed to appear dominant, they stood upright, with hips forward and torso leaning backward. </p>



<p>This might remind you of the “power pose” idea, but there was no indication in this particular study that an altered posture produced an altered state of mind.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-neck-flexion-and-positioning">Neck flexion and positioning</h2>



<p>The most informative feature was how much the head tilts down or up - <a href="https://www.stonybrookmedicine.edu/lifestyle-medicine/movement/resources/neck" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">neck flexion</a>. The scientists focused on the angle that captures chin-down vs. chin-up - i.e., how much the head is tilted forward relative to the neck/torso. </p>



<p>The team extracted body keypoints from simple front/side photos, then computed posture angles - including a neck-flexion angle - from those keypoints.</p>



<p>The position of your neck, combined with your body posture and stance, correlated to personality: more-upright individuals tended, on average, to endorse more dominance-oriented views and scored higher on some manipulative/antisocial trait measures. </p>



<p>To clarify, people who naturally held their head higher (less flexion; more “chin up”) tended, on average, to score higher on dominance-related and some antisocial/manipulative traits (e.g., social dominance orientation, primary psychopathy, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/psychology/machiavellianism" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Machiavellianism</a>). They also scored lower on empathy and anger control.</p>



<p>Crucially, neck flexion was a group-level correlation, not a diagnosis, and the pattern held when participants returned about a month later, suggesting a stable trait rather than just a passing mood.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-posture-and-social-cues">Posture and social cues</h2>



<p>Some <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/body-language-expresses-emotions-across-cultures/">body-emotion links</a> are well known: raising the fists (anger), moving the torso backward (fear), curving the lower back or “lordotic” posture (sexual receptiveness in female mammals), and arching the back (rats and other four-legged animals). </p>



<p>In social situations, an open, erect, and expanded stance often reads as dominant. A slumped, closed posture tends to read as submissive.</p>



<p>These visible patterns form a practical “menu” of cues people use, especially with strangers. Any one of them, or a mix, can help you <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39311863/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">figure out what someone may be signaling</a> without saying a word.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-personality-links-that-showed-up">Personality links that showed up</h2>



<p>Early in the series, people with more erect postures scored higher on personality traits associated with psychopathic tendencies. Later work broadened the view. </p>



<p>The final study assessed psychopathy, manipulativeness, competitiveness, and belief in the existence of social hierarchies. </p>



<p>In the authors’ words, this range of attributes reflects “the use of intimidation in order to improve one’s access to resources in the environment at the expense of others."</p>



<p>The authors reasoned that for some dominant individuals, “the experience of being at the bottom of the heap can be intolerable." </p>



<p>A feedback loop can follow: standing tall and straight takes effort and often draws deferential treatment. That social response can reinforce a dominant posture over time.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-not-everyone-stands-the-same">Not everyone stands the same</h2>



<p>People who scored lower on these dominance-related traits showed a wider range of stances rather than sticking to one “strong” look. </p>



<p>Flexibility in posture - opening up in some moments, settling into neutral in others - fits with lower endorsement of competitive, top-down views of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/having-an-active-social-life-helps-the-brain-make-better-sense-of-the-world/">social life</a>.</p>



<p>The big picture here is that natural posture, captured in everyday conditions, carries information about personality and social attitudes. It wasn’t just a flash in the pan.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-underlying-issues">Underlying issues</h2>



<p>There are limits. The sample leaned heavily toward female undergraduates, and the methods were correlational. Culture also shapes how people use space and stance. </p>



<p>As people age, normal changes in muscle and body mass can affect posture, no matter their personality. Those realities matter when you apply these findings to new groups or settings.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bringing-this-into-the-real-world">Bringing this into the real world</h2>



<p>When you meet someone new, you take in many cues at once - <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/facial-expressions-arent-enough-to-understand-human-emotions/">face</a>, voice, handshake, movement. Posture is one cue among many, and it’s a useful one. </p>



<p>A person standing up straight can come across as confident and trustworthy. However, in special circumstances, a consistently erect, expanded stance was associated with stronger endorsement of social dominance and related traits. </p>



<p>On the flip side, a person who slumps isn’t automatically timid; context matters.</p>



<p>The study closes with a practical note: a person who appears to use their body to intimidate you - even if they do not fully succeed - is someone to avoid.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-you-should-take-from-this-study">What you should take from this study</h2>



<p>Trait-level posture exists - that isn't up for debate. It links directly to how people think about rank and competition. The measure was checked against muscle activity and held steady over one month. </p>



<p>Briefly adopting a pose - dominant or submissive - didn’t seem to change people’s mindset in this set of studies. </p>



<p>And while posture can inform first impressions, it should sit alongside other signals before you decide how to engage.</p>



<p>That’s the takeaway: pay attention, stay thoughtful, and use posture as one clear piece of the larger social puzzle.</p>



<p>The full studies were published in the <em><a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Fpspp0000515" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Personality and Social Psychology</a></em>.</p>



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Observing how a person stands will quickly reveal their personality type and traits

Body posture sends steady social signals. Long before anyone speaks,...

Molecule,And,Communication,Background.,Brochure,Or,Web,Banner,Design.,Lines

<p>Gold behaves differently when it is reduced to a single layer of atoms. Electrons take new routes and light couples to the surface in surprising ways. A team reports they have isolated such a layer and given it a fitting name: "goldene," echoing graphene’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/graphene-wonder-material-changing-the-world-is-officially-declared-safe-for-humans/">single-atom carbon sheet</a>.</p>



<p>Why would anyone fuss over atom-thick gold? Shrinking to two dimensions can unlock properties you don’t see in bulk metal. </p>



<p>That includes tunable <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/researchers-announce-an-unexpected-breakthrough-in-graphene-physics-that-could-lead-to-a-new-generation-of-ultra-efficient-computers/">electrical behavior</a>, stronger interactions with light, and a hyperactive surface useful for catalytic reactions. </p>



<p>This new work shows how to make a freestanding gold sheet just one atom thick, rather than only growing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/altermagnetism-third-form-of-magnetism-existence-confirmed/">ultrathin films</a> on a supporting surface.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-they-made-goldene">How they made goldene</h2>



<p>According to Lars Hultman, a materials scientist at <a href="https://liu.se/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Linköping University</a> in Sweden and senior author of a study in <em>Nature Synthesis</em>, the method could “expand the boundaries of what it’s possible to do with materials,” and it starts with a naturally layered crystal.</p>



<p>The group first created a gold-containing “MAX phase,” a crystal that stacks atomic layers in a repeating pattern. </p>



<p>They began with <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32384996/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ti₃SiC₂</a>, then heated a gold-coated film to approximately 670°C (1,238°F), allowing gold atoms to replace silicon and form Ti₃AuC₂. </p>



<p>In earlier work, that swap left atom-thick gold trapped between other layers. </p>



<p>“The good news was that we had gold layers that were just one atom thick,” Hultman says. “The bad news was that they were stuck inside the host crystal.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-freeing-the-monolayer">Freeing the monolayer</h2>



<p>Metals prefer to bead up, not spread flat at the atomic scale. The team avoided that by etching away the non-gold layers while protecting the newly exposed gold. </p>



<p>They used Murakami’s reagent, a classic etchant that reacts strongly with titanium and carbon but largely ignores gold under the right conditions.</p>



<p>Surfactants acted like traffic control on the gold surface. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0040609008012030" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CTAB</a>, a bulky molecule, and small sulfur-bearing molecules such as cysteine or cysteamine attached to gold and helped keep the sheet from curling or merging into blobs during the etch.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tuning-goldene-s-chemistry">Tuning goldene's chemistry</h2>



<p>Selectivity mattered. If the etchant was too strong, the structure broke into nanoparticles. If it was too weak, the process dragged out and damaged the sheet. </p>



<p>The sweet spot used low concentrations paired with the right surfactants. The etch ran in darkness to prevent light-driven reactions that generate cyanide species capable of dissolving gold.</p>



<p>Spacing between the gold layers in the starting crystal mattered too. </p>



<p>Layers that were too close attracted each other as they were freed, merging into thicker pieces. More separation gave surfactants time to slip in and stabilize the sheet.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/goldene_supermaterial_graphene-cousin_one-atom-thick_infographic_NatSynth_1m.jpg"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/goldene_supermaterial_graphene-cousin_one-atom-thick_infographic_NatSynth_1s.webp" alt="a, Schematic atomic positions corresponding to a square in b, and HR-STEM image of Ti3AuC2 orientation marked in b. Yellow, blue and black balls represent Au, Ti and C atoms, respectively. Scale bar, 5 Å. b, Cross-sectional HR-STEM image of Ti3AuC2, after etching by Murakami’s reagent with CTAB, where the original Ti3AuC2 structure remains at the left side and goldene appears at the right side of the etching frontline. Scale bar, 5 nm. c, Zoomed-in partly twisted goldene after etching away Ti3C2 slabs marked in b. Scale bar, 2 nm. d, Schematic illustration of the preparation of goldene. Credit: Nature Synthesis" class="wp-image-1983205"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>a, Schematic atomic positions corresponding to a square in b, and HR-STEM image of Ti3AuC2 orientation marked in b. Yellow, blue and black balls represent Au, Ti and C atoms, respectively. Scale bar, 5 Å. b, Cross-sectional HR-STEM image of Ti3AuC2, after etching by Murakami’s reagent with CTAB, where the original Ti3AuC2 structure remains at the left side and goldene appears at the right side of the etching frontline. Scale bar, 5 nm. c, Zoomed-in partly twisted goldene after etching away Ti3C2 slabs marked in b. Scale bar, 2 nm. d, Schematic illustration of the preparation of goldene. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Nature Synthesis</em></figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tighter-atomic-spacing">Tighter atomic spacing</h2>



<p>Electron microscopes revealed true monolayers: freestanding gold sheets only one atom thick. The flakes were not large; most spanned from a few nanometers to about 100 nanometers across (about 0.0000039 inches).</p>



<p>As with many single-atom materials, the sheets showed natural ripples and slightly curled edges, but they remained single layers rather than stacks.</p>



<p>Measurements showed the distance between neighboring gold atoms shrank by about 9% compared with ordinary gold. </p>



<p>Confinement to two dimensions can tighten bonding, and that’s reflected in the shorter spacing. Elemental mapping confirmed the identity: the sheets were truly gold, not a titanium-based lookalike.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-the-x-rays-revealed">What the x-rays revealed</h2>



<p><a href="https://jlab.chem.yale.edu/research/techniques/photoelectron-spectroscopy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy</a> found a higher binding energy shift - about 0.88 electronvolts - compared with regular metallic gold. </p>



<p>That shift signals a different electronic environment for goldene’s atoms, consistent with a two-dimensional metal rather than bulk gold.</p>



<p>Atomistic simulations suggest that a perfect goldene sheet remains stable at room temperature. The same modeling helps explain the observed ripples and the tendency for edges to curl or aggregate when surface chemistry is not tuned correctly. </p>



<p>That guidance, together with the experiments, points to practical levers - etch strength, surfactant choice, light exposure, and layer spacing - to improve yield and size.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-goldene-matters">Why goldene matters</h2>



<p>Gold already plays a role in electronics, photonics, sensing, and medicine. Flattening it to a single layer boosts surface area and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/graphene-superhighway-allows-electronic-devices-to-use-much-less-power/">tweaks electron behavior</a>. </p>



<p>That combination could help catalysts that convert waste streams into useful chemicals, enhance light-harvesting in solar components, or make photothermal therapies more efficient by heating tumors locally with less material.</p>



<p>Because goldene exposes so many atoms directly on the surface, you can get more effect from less metal than with larger particles. That can cut costs while trimming environmental impact tied to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/graphene-new-wonder-material-earth-technology-found-moon-soil/">mining and refining</a>.</p>



<p>In short, the team hid a monolayer of gold inside a layered crystal, then etched away everything else while “soaping” the gold so it stayed flat. </p>



<p>The result is a freestanding, one-atom-thick metal sheet with clear structural and electronic signatures that differ from those of bulk gold - and a wide-open set of possibilities that now moves from wish list to working material.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s44160-024-00518-4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Synthesis</a></em>.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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Introducing 'goldene': the world's newest supermaterial that is one atom thick

Gold behaves differently when it is reduced to a single...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HDXqTGEmi4
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Scientists give plants superpowers against bacterial disease</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-natural-solution-to-disease-through-crop-modification">A natural solution to disease through crop modification.</h2>



<p>The agricultural industry stands at a crossroads between productivity and environmental responsibility, and crop modification often carries a negative connotation. While chemical pesticides have long been the go-to solution for crop protection, their harmful effects on ecosystems and human health have prompted scientists to seek alternatives. The recent breakthrough by <a href="https://www.southampton.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Southampton</a> researchers offers a promising path forward through the precise manipulation of plant-associated microbial communities.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-science-behind-microbial-partnerships">The science behind microbial partnerships</h2>



<p>Plants naturally harbor diverse ecosystems of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms that function as biological allies. These microscopic partners contribute to disease resistance, nutrient absorption, and stress tolerance. However, until now, scientists lacked the tools to deliberately reshape these communities to enhance crop protection.</p>



<p>The Southampton team's approach centered on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/engineered-plant-microbiomes-the-future-of-crop-protection/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">modifying lignin biosynthesis genes in rice plants</a>. This strategic intervention altered the plant's metabolic output, creating conditions that favored beneficial bacterial populations while suppressing harmful ones. The result was a living defense system embedded within the plant itself.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-global-food-security">Implications for global food security</h2>



<p>The successful demonstration against Xanthomonas oryzae, the pathogen responsible for bacterial blight in rice, represents more than a laboratory achievement. Rice feeds nearly half the world's population, and bacterial blight causes devastating crop losses annually. Traditional control methods rely heavily on pesticides that contaminate soil and water systems.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looking-beyond-disease-resistance">Looking Beyond Disease Resistance</h2>



<p>While disease protection represents the immediate application, the research framework opens doors to broader agricultural improvements. Future developments could engineer microbiomes to enhance nutrient uptake, reducing dependence on synthetic fertilizers. This dual benefit addresses both crop productivity and environmental sustainability.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-path-forward">The path forward</h2>



<p>As this technology advances from laboratory to field applications, it promises to reshape sustainable agriculture. The ability to program plants with their own biological defense systems could herald a new era where crops protect themselves naturally, reducing chemical inputs while maintaining yields necessary for global food security.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal&nbsp;<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-44335-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Nature Communications</em></a>.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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<p>-----</p>

Revolutionizing agriculture through microbiome engineering

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HDXqTGEmi4 Scientists give plants superpowers against bacterial disease A natural...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVywlgRJXsc
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Some children read facial expressions when making food choices.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-other-people-s-reactions-influence-children-s-eating-habits">Other people's reactions influence children's eating habits</h2>



<p>Many children are finicky eaters, but research explains how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/scientists-have-learned-why-so-many-kids-dislike-vegetables/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">watching others eat and social modeling</a> influence the eating habits of children.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Study Methodology Demonstrates Social Learning Impact</h2>



<p>Researchers at <a href="https://www.aston.ac.uk/hls/school-of-psychology" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Aston University School of Psychology</a> have published findings in Frontiers in Psychology that illuminate the neurobiological foundations of food preference development through observational learning. The investigation employed controlled video stimuli featuring adults consuming raw broccoli while displaying systematically varied facial expressions to measure participant responses.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Asymmetrical Response Patterns Identified</h2>



<p>The research, conducted with 204 female participants, revealed a pronounced asymmetry in social modeling effects. Negative facial expressions during vegetable consumption significantly diminished observer food preference ratings, while positive expressions failed to produce corresponding increases in vegetable appeal. This finding challenges conventional assumptions about the bidirectional nature of social influence in dietary behavior formation.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Evolutionary Psychology Framework Applied</h2>



<p>Dr. Katie Edwards and her research team propose that these results reflect adaptive mechanisms developed through evolutionary processes. The heightened sensitivity to disgust expressions likely functions as a protective system, enabling individuals to identify potentially harmful foods through social cues without direct risk exposure.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Clinical and Educational Implications</h2>



<p>These findings carry substantial implications for pediatric nutrition interventions and family meal dynamics. The research suggests that parental expressions of distaste during vegetable consumption may inadvertently reinforce children's existing food aversions through unconscious social transmission pathways.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Future Research Directions</h2>



<p>The study establishes a foundation for expanded investigation into real-time social modeling effects and cross-demographic applicability. Researchers emphasize the necessity for longitudinal studies examining actual consumption behaviors rather than preference ratings alone, particularly within family contexts where social learning occurs most frequently.</p>



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<p></p>

Social modeling affects our food choices

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVywlgRJXsc Some children read facial expressions when making food choices....

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JynHpMaNO8A
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Chaotic cancer protein finally controlled after decades of mystery</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cancer-causing-protein-bound-and-blocked">Cancer-causing protein bound and blocked</h2>



<p>In a discovery that can one day revolutionize cancer treatment, researchers at the <a href="https://www.ucr.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of California, Riverside</a> have successfully developed a means of controlling MYC, a notoriously slippery protein that causes approximately <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/chaotic-protein-that-fuels-75-of-cancers-can-be-controlled/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">75% of all cancers in humans</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-makes-myc-different">What makes MYC different</h2>



<p>MYC presents a unique challenge when studying cancer. Normally, this protein plays a vital role in healthy cells. It carefully controls transcription - the process that converts genetic information from DNA and RNA into proteins.</p>



<p>However, cancer changes everything. In cancer cells, MYC becomes a destructive force. It operates in overdrive mode with no regulation whatsoever.</p>



<p>Professor Min Xue, who led the research team, explains it simply: "MYC is less like food for cancer cells and more like a steroid. It drives cancer's aggressive growth." This superactive behavior makes MYC involved in three out of every four cancer cases.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-myc-is-hard-to-target">Why MYC is hard to target</h2>



<p>Despite its clear role in cancer, targeting MYC has been one of medicine's biggest challenges. The main problem lies in MYC's unusual structure - or rather, its complete lack of structure.</p>



<p>Professor Xue describes the protein as "basically a glob of randomness." This means conventional drug discovery methods don't work. These traditional approaches rely on sharply defined protein structures. MYC simply doesn't have one.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A New Approach to Fighting MYC</h2>



<p>The UCR research team developed a clever solution. They designed a special peptide molecule that could selectively bind to MYC. More importantly, this peptide could block MYC's destructive activity.</p>



<p>The key was fine-tuning two specific features: the peptide's stiffness and its shape. Through careful adjustments, researchers achieved something remarkable. They reached "sub-micro-molar affinity" - meaning their peptide binds as strongly as antibodies do.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-breakthrough-results">Breakthrough results</h2>



<p>This accomplishment represents a major leap beyond previous attempts. The researchers enhanced their peptide's binding strength by two orders of magnitude. This dramatic improvement brings the work significantly closer to practical drug development goals.</p>



<p>The research opens new possibilities for treating the vast majority of cancers where MYC plays a destructive role.</p>



<p>The researchers are presently optimizing peptide-delivery systems based on lipid nanoparticles that deliver the peptide effectively into cancer cells. The<a href="https://www.nih.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> National Institutes of Health</a> and the <a href="https://www.defense.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">U.S. Department of Defense</a> funded the study, which appeared in the Journal of the <a href="https://www.acs.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Chemical Society</a>.<br>This research offers renewed hope against cancer, and it can potentially open a door to more effective cancer therapies for most cancer patients worldwide.</p>



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<p>-----</p>

The protein that fuels 3 out of 4 cancers has been controlled

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JynHpMaNO8A Chaotic cancer protein finally controlled after decades of mystery...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y4eLFNYrKE
</div></figure>



<p>On the unforgiving landscape of North Greenland, temperatures drop and sunlight barely penetrates through the polar winter. It was here, however, that an international team of scientists found <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/predatory-worms-were-terror-beasts-half-a-billion-years-ago/#google_vignette" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">evidence of sea monsters</a> that would change our understanding of ocean life in the past.</p>



<p>This video captures the discovery of Timorebestia fossils that had been hidden for more than 500 million years in the Sirius Passet formation. The "terror beasts," as they are called, are a hidden chapter in the evolutionary history of <a href="https://www.earth.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Earth</a>, showing that sophisticated predator-prey interactions occurred much earlier than previously envisioned.</p>



<p>Dr. Jakob Vinther and his research team at the <a href="https://www.bristol.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Bristol</a>, in collaboration with researchers at the <a href="https://eng.kopri.re.kr/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Korean Polar Research Institute</a>, braved extreme weather conditions at 82.5 north latitude to locate these giant creatures. Using sophisticated electron microprobe analysis, they revealed the detailed anatomy of the animals, including their muscle and nerve tissues.</p>



<p>The find upsets the traditional timeline of sea predators.  Although we've long appreciated that Cambrian oceans were at one time ruled by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWI3-UgA3_o&amp;list=PL1QLQMW9MWDwpkFOnvgAmu7wT6rZmYqdJ&amp;index=19" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">arthropods</a>, these discoveries indicate that relatives of arrow worms were first to dominate the seas.  These worms were building sophisticated food webs several million years before other predator groups arose.</p>



<p>Each fossil is a story of ancient hunger, with fossil stomach contents revealing these meter-long beasts dined on heavily armored arthropods regularly, cementing their place as the ocean's first apex predators.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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Worms dominated seas before dinosaurs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y4eLFNYrKE On the unforgiving landscape of North Greenland, temperatures drop...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow3JH03PqEQ
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">New York is the site of the world's oldest forest.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-385-million-year-old-trees-discovered">385-million-year-old trees discovered</h2>



<p>Scientists have uncovered something extraordinary just two hours north of New York City. The <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/worlds-oldest-forest-discovered-close-to-new-york-city/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">world's oldest forest</a>, dating back 385 million years, offers a window into how Earth's first complex forests shaped our planet's atmosphere.</p>



<p>Located near <a href="https://townofcairo.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cairo, New York</a>, in Greene County, these weren't merely primitive plants struggling to survive. These were sophisticated trees with root systems remarkably similar to modern forests. This ancient woodland predates dinosaurs by 140 million years.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-cairo-forest-discovery">The Cairo forest discovery</h2>



<p>385 million years ago, upstate New York was a tropical paradise near the equator. Thanks to continental drift, this ancient forest has traveled thousands of miles to its current location.</p>



<p>The fossil forest sits in an abandoned quarry, roughly half the size of a football field. This represents just a slice of what was likely a massive forest system stretching from New York into Pennsylvania.</p>



<p>Charles Ver Straeten, curator of sedimentary rocks at the <a href="https://www.nysm.nysed.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New York State Museum</a>, made the discovery in 2009. While scouting the former highway department property, his trained eye spotted wandering patterns in the stone that looked like marine features.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-revolutionary-age-and-preservation">Revolutionary age and preservation</h2>



<p>The site contains 385-million-year-old rocks with fossilized woody roots forming horizontal patterns up to 18 feet (5.5 meters) wide. As Christopher Berry, a paleobotanist at Cardiff University, explains: "You are walking through the roots of ancient trees."</p>



<p>This discovery pushes back advanced tree evolution by millions of years. The research, published in <em><a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Current Biology</a></em> in December 2019, fundamentally changes our understanding of when complex forests first emerged.</p>



<p>Researchers believe a massive flood buried the forest floor, creating perfect fossilization conditions. Over millions of years, sediment hardened into rock, preserving these root patterns like nature's time capsule.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-meet-archaeopteris-the-first-modern-tree">Meet <em>Archaeopteris</em>: the first modern tree</h2>



<p>The star of this ancient forest is <em>Archaeopteris</em> – not to be confused with the feathered dinosaur <em>Archaeopteryx</em>. This tree was far older and more revolutionary.</p>



<p>William Stein from <a href="https://www.binghamton.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Binghamton University</a> describes the roots as "strikingly modern, essentially what you'd see outside in my yard right now." These weren't simple root systems you'd expect from ancient plants.</p>



<p>Some fossilized roots are six inches (15 centimeters) in diameter, forming 36-foot-wide (11-meter) patterns. These giants grew up to 65 feet (20 meters) tall with five-foot-diameter (1.5-meter) trunks.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-climate-changing-impact">Climate-changing impact</h2>



<p>These trees fundamentally changed Earth's environment. Kevin Boyce, a Stanford University geoscientist, explains how their deep roots triggered "weathering," chemical reactions that pulled carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.</p>



<p>This process dropped atmospheric CO2 levels from 10-15 times higher than today to roughly modern concentrations. These ancient trees helped create atmospheric conditions that made complex life possible.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ancient-forest-ecosystem">Ancient forest ecosystem</h2>



<p>The forest was remarkably diverse. Scientists identified <em>Eospermatopteris</em>, palm tree-like plants with short roots that reached 30 feet (9 meters) tall but lacked woody structure. The forest also housed cladoxylopsids and a mysterious third species still being studied.</p>



<p>All reproduced through spores rather than seeds – millions of years before seeds evolved. This tropical environment had no grass, flowers, or flying insects, just towering trees creating Earth's first complex forest canopy.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scientific-significance">Scientific significance</h2>



<p>Before this finding, the Gilboa forest, located 25 miles (40 kilometers) away, held the "oldest forest" title. Cairo's trees are 2-3 million years older, showing that complex forest ecosystems developed much faster than scientists believed possible.</p>



<p>Patricia Gensel, a <a href="https://www.unc.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of North Carolina</a> paleobotanist, notes: "The size of those root systems is really changing the picture. Even 20 years ago, researchers assumed trees with such complex root systems didn't evolve so early."</p>



<p>The Cairo site presents three unique root systems, suggesting Devonian period forests were diverse ecosystems with different trees occupying different environmental niches, much like today's forests.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-modern-preservation-efforts">Modern preservation efforts</h2>



<p>In 2022, New York State Senator Michelle Hinchey secured a $170,000 grant for the town of Cairo to construct specialized fencing around the fossil forest site. The town plans to conduct a feasibility study exploring the possibility of creating an educational center and working lab on-site.</p>



<p>Joe Hasenkopf, chair of the Cairo Planning Board, hopes to partner with educational institutions to create a research facility serving scientists, students, and the public.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lessons-for-today-s-climate">Lessons for today's climate</h2>



<p>Why does a 385-million-year-old forest matter today? It shows how dramatically forests can change Earth's climate. These ancient woodlands created the atmospheric conditions supporting complex life.</p>



<p>Understanding how prehistoric forests transformed the planet helps us appreciate modern forests' critical role in addressing climate change. Forests remain Earth's most effective carbon capture systems.</p>



<p>These prehistoric trees changed Earth's atmosphere by pulling massive amounts of carbon dioxide from the air. As we face modern climate challenges, this ancient forest reminds us of trees' incredible power to transform our planet's environment.</p>



<p>The next time you walk through a forest, remember you're experiencing an ecosystem whose blueprint was established 385 million years ago in upstate New York. These ancient pioneers didn't just survive – they thrived and changed the world forever.</p>



<p>The full study was published in the journal <em>Current Biology</em>.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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Earth's oldest forest found in the United States

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow3JH03PqEQ New York is the site of the world's oldest...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Veg4HmmRVZY
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Our bodies hits two 'aging cliffs' at these ages.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scientists-map-exact-ages-when-your-body-rapidly-ages">Scientists Map Exact Ages When Your Body Rapidly Ages</h2>



<p>Scientists have <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-bodies-begin-breaking-down-two-very-precise-ages/#google_vignette">discovered that aging</a> isn't the gradual, steady process many assume it to be. Instead, researchers from Stanford Medicine have found that our bodies undergo dramatic molecular changes at two specific ages: 44 and 60. This research, published in Nature Aging, reveals that aging happens in sudden bursts rather than smooth transitions.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-two-waves-of-rapid-aging">Two waves of rapid aging</h2>



<p>The Stanford study tracked over 135,000 different molecules and microbes in 108 participants aged 25 to 75 over several years. Results showed that 81% of all molecules studied exhibited non-linear changes, meaning they shifted dramatically at certain ages rather than changing gradually over time.</p>



<p>Michael Snyder, chair of genetics at Stanford School of Medicine and the study's senior author, noted significant findings. "We're not just changing gradually over time; there are some really dramatic changes. It turns out the mid-40s is a time of dramatic change, as is the early 60s. And that's true no matter what class of molecules you look at."</p>



<p>The first wave of changes occurs around age 44, affecting molecules related to alcohol metabolism, caffeine processing, lipid <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/age-related-changes-in-metabolism-dont-match-our-expectations/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">metabolism</a>, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/heart-disease-remains-the-leading-cause-of-death-worldwide/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cardiovascular disease</a>, and skin and muscle function. The second wave hits around age 60, involving changes in carbohydrate metabolism, immune regulation, kidney function, and again cardiovascular and muscle health.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-happens-during-these-aging-bursts">What happens during these aging bursts</h2>



<p>During the mid-40s transformation, researchers observed significant changes in how the body processes alcohol and fats. This period often coincides with increased stress levels in many people's lives, potentially contributing to lifestyle factors that accelerate these molecular shifts.</p>



<p>"It's possible some of these changes could be tied to lifestyle or behavioral factors that cluster at these age groups, rather than being driven by biological factors," Snyder explained. For instance, alcohol metabolism dysfunction might result from increased consumption during the typically stressful mid-40s period.</p>



<p>The changes at age 60 are perhaps less surprising, as this is when many age-related diseases begin to manifest more prominently. The molecular shifts affect immune function and kidney health, both critical for maintaining overall wellness as we enter our senior years.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-latest-research-confirms-aging-patterns">Latest research confirms aging patterns</h2>



<p>Recent 2025 studies have validated these findings. Research examining tissue samples from 76 people found similar aging patterns, noting an "inflection point" between ages 45 and 55.</p>



<p>Scientists discovered that blood vessels, particularly the aorta, age fastest among all body tissues. This vascular aging may drive aging in other body parts, highlighting cardiovascular health's central role in the aging process.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cellular-changes-and-microbiome-shifts">Cellular changes and microbiome shifts</h2>



<p>The Stanford research revealed that these aging bursts affect our microbiome – the trillions of bacteria, viruses, and fungi living in and on our bodies. These microbial communities undergo substantial shifts during both aging periods, potentially affecting everything from digestion to immune function.</p>



<p>Additionally, researchers found that protein production and gene expression begin to fall out of sync as we age. This breakdown in cellular communication becomes especially pronounced during the two aging waves, contributing to the accumulation of damaged proteins associated with diseases such as <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/alzheimers-may-not-be-brain-disorder-important-data-was-fabricated/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alzheimer's</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-implications-and-longevity-considerations">Health implications and longevity considerations</h2>



<p>Understanding these aging patterns has important implications for healthcare strategies. Research suggests that people should pay particular attention to their health during their 40s and 60s, when these dramatic molecular changes occur.</p>



<p>Snyder emphasized the importance of proactive health measures. "I'm a big believer that we should try to adjust our lifestyles while we're still healthy," he noted. This might include increasing exercise to protect heart health and maintain muscle mass, or reducing alcohol consumption in the 40s as the body's ability to metabolize it declines.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-new-approaches-to-anti-aging-treatment">New approaches to anti-aging treatment</h2>



<p>Aging research has seen notable advances in 2025. Harvard Medical School scientists developed chemical cocktails that reverse cellular aging without genetic modification. These six combinations restored aged cells to youthfulness in under a week, offering safer alternatives to gene therapy.</p>



<p>Researchers identified new biomarkers like "InflammAge," a saliva-based test measuring chronic inflammation associated with aging. This non-invasive approach could change how we monitor aging and intervention.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-directions-in-aging-research">Future directions in aging research</h2>



<p>Emerging technologies including artificial intelligence, cellular reprogramming, and senolytic therapies, are opening new possibilities for extending healthspan. Companies develop treatments targeting aging's fundamental mechanisms rather than just managing age-related diseases.</p>



<p>The Stanford findings provide a roadmap for implementing preventive measures. Rather than waiting for symptoms, people can prepare for and potentially mitigate these predictable aging waves.</p>



<p>As aging understanding evolves, one thing becomes clear: aging isn't inevitable decline, but specific biological events we may learn to prevent or reverse. The key is recognizing when these transitions occur and taking proactive health steps during vulnerable periods.</p>



<p>The study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.nature.com/nataging" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Aging</a></em>.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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<p>-----</p>

Scientists discover we age in bursts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Veg4HmmRVZY Our bodies hits two 'aging cliffs' at these ages....

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqlF0XKzHY4
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The hidden science behind tickling.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scientists-discover-the-brain-s-tickling-command-center">Scientists discover the brain's 'tickling command center'</h2>



<p>Researchers have finally solved one of humanity's most enduring mysteries: why we can't <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/after-centuries-of-debate-we-still-dont-know-how-tickling-works/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tickle</a> ourselves and what makes some people incredibly ticklish while others barely react? Recent scientific discoveries are revolutionizing our understanding of this peculiar human behavior.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-breakthrough-discovery-in-the-brain">Breakthrough discovery in the brain</h2>



<p>In 2023, Dr. Michael Brecht's team at <a href="https://www.hu-berlin.de/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Humboldt University</a>-<a href="https://www.hu-berlin.de/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Berlin</a> made a major discovery published in the <a href="https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(22)01991-5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">journal <em>Neuron</em></a>. They identified the brain's actual "tickling command center" – specific neurons in a region called the periaqueductal gray that control both tickling responses and play behavior.</p>



<p>When researchers used cutting-edge optogenetic technology to shut down these neurons in laboratory rats, something remarkable happened. The animals completely lost their ability to be tickled or engage in playful behavior.</p>



<p>"We found that global blockade of the rat periaqueductal gray with either muscimol or lidocaine interfered with ticklishness and play," the research team reported in their study.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-two-types-of-tickling-revealed">Two types of tickling revealed</h2>



<p>What we call "tickling" is two completely different phenomena, according to the latest research. Light tickling – that feathery sensation that makes you want to scratch – is essentially your body's sophisticated bug detection system. This alerts you to potential insects or parasites on your skin.</p>



<p>Deep tickling – the kind that makes you laugh uncontrollably – involves complex brain circuits and is fundamentally social. You literally cannot tickle yourself with this type of stimulation.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-self-tickling-is-impossible">Why self-tickling is impossible</h2>



<p>Your cerebellum acts like a prediction machine, recent findings show. When you move your own hand to touch yourself, your brain generates precise predictions about what you will feel and then cancels out the tickling sensation through neural inhibition.</p>



<p>When someone else tickles you, your brain can't predict their movements, so the full tickling response activates. It's like your brain's way of distinguishing between self and others.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-individual-differences-explained">Individual differences explained</h2>



<p>Individual differences in ticklishness depend on genetics, psychology, and even trust. Dr. Xinzhong Dong at <a href="https://www.jhu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Johns Hopkins University</a> notes that people with denser nerve endings tend to be more sensitive.</p>



<p>Psychological factors matter just as much. You respond more strongly when tickled by people you trust, and anxiety completely shuts down tickling responses. This explains why the same physical stimulus can produce completely different reactions depending on who's doing the tickling.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-controlling-your-ticklishness">Controlling your ticklishness</h2>



<p>Science offers answers for controlling your ticklishness. You can reduce tickling sensitivity through systematic desensitization – gradual exposure in controlled settings.</p>



<p>Dr. Konstantina Kilteni's 2025 research, published in <em><a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adt0350" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Science Advances</a></em>, reveals another technique: place your hand on the tickler's hand. This allows your brain to partially predict the sensations, reducing the tickling response by up to 90 percent.</p>



<p>"Your brain is essentially learning to override its own reflexes," Kilteni explained in her review of tickling research.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evolutionary-purpose-discovered">Evolutionary purpose discovered</h2>



<p>From an evolutionary perspective, tickling serves vital functions according to <a href="https://www.umd.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Maryland</a> researcher Dr. Robert Provine's extensive studies. It trains our defense reflexes for vulnerable body areas and facilitates social bonding between family members.</p>



<p>Tickling-induced laughter is actually one of the first forms of communication between infants and caregivers. "Tickle involves a neurological self/nonself discrimination, providing the most primitive social scenario," Provine noted in his research.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-clinical-applications-emerge">Clinical applications emerge</h2>



<p>Research shows people with autism spectrum disorder perceive touches as more ticklish than people without the condition. Investigating this difference could provide insight into brain differences and help advance autism research.</p>



<p>People with schizophrenia tend to experience self-touches similarly to external tickles, allowing them to essentially tickle themselves. This suggests altered sensory prediction mechanisms in the condition.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-animal-research-reveals-universal-nature">Animal research reveals universal nature</h2>



<p>Scientists have discovered that many species beyond humans are ticklish. Rats emit ultrasonic "laughs" when tickled, while chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans all respond to tickling stimulation.</p>



<p>This widespread occurrence across species suggests that tickling serves fundamental biological and social functions that evolved long before humans developed complex language and culture.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-future-research-directions">Future research directions</h2>



<p>Dr. Kilteni argues that tickling research deserves more scientific attention. "It is a complex interplay of motor, social, neurological, developmental, and evolutionary aspects," she stated in her recent review.</p>



<p>New haptic technologies and advanced research methodologies now permit scientists to investigate tickle sensation with unprecedented precision. Standardized experimental methods using mechanical tickling devices ensure consistent results across studies.</p>



<p>Recent findings published in <em>Science Advances</em> show that tickling research is opening new doors in neuroscience, potentially leading to a better understanding of social behavior, sensory processing, and neurological conditions.</p>



<p>-----</p>



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<p>-----</p>

Scientists solve the mystery of tickling

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqlF0XKzHY4 The hidden science behind tickling. Scientists discover the brain's...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elr4948_uOU
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Dr. Ronald Mallett from the University of Connecticut reveals secret mission to create working time travel device.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-could-an-equation-truly-bend-time-a-physicist-s-decades-long-quest-to-rewrite-reality">Could an equation truly bend time? A physicist's decades-long quest to rewrite reality</h2>



<p>Imagine the impossible: stepping back through time in a time machine, not in fantasy, but through a scientific endeavor driven by profound personal loss. For <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/astrophysicist-says-hes-cracked-the-equation-for-time-travel/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Ronald Mallett</a>, a distinguished astrophysicist and professor emeritus at the <a href="https://uconn.edu/">University of Connecticut</a>, this deeply human longing has fueled a lifelong mission. He claims to have discovered the equation that could unlock temporal displacement, pushing boundaries once deemed purely science fiction.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-profound-grief-that-forged-a-vision">A profound grief that forged a vision</h2>



<p>Mallett's extraordinary pursuit began with devastating tragedy in 1955. At merely 10 years old, he endured his father Boyd's sudden death—a television repairman whose passion for science had ignited a similar spark in his young son. Boyd Mallett, only 33, succumbed to a heart attack, leaving behind a grief-stricken child searching for solace.</p>



<p>That solace came through H.G. Wells' <em>The Time Machine</em>. Within its pages, Mallett found a captivating concept: "Time is only a kind of Space." These words transformed from a literary phrase into a guiding principle, becoming the driving force behind his unwavering commitment to unraveling time's fundamental mysteries.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-humble-beginnings-to-academic-heights">From humble beginnings to academic heights</h2>



<p>Mallett's journey was far from straightforward. After serving in the Air Force during the Vietnam War era, he utilized the GI Bill for higher education, earning his Ph.D. in physics from Pennsylvania State University in 1973 at the age of 28.</p>



<p>In 1975, he made history as the first African American professor in the University of Connecticut's physics department, achieving full professorship in 1987 before retiring in 2024 as professor emeritus.</p>



<p>Throughout these successful academic years, Mallett harbored his radical ambition as a closely guarded secret. "I kept my time travel goal a secret," he confessed. "I worried people would think I was nuts." His public research centered on black holes, serving as a "cover story" while he quietly developed his revolutionary time travel theory.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-breakthrough-moment">The breakthrough moment</h2>



<p>His pivotal insight arrived while hospitalized for a heart condition—a profound irony given his father's heart attack started this journey. The breakthrough was elegantly simple yet revolutionary: "If gravity can bend time, and light can create gravity, then light can bend time."</p>



<p>"It turns out that black holes can create a gravitational field that could lead to the creation of time loops that could allow us to go back in time," he explained.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-blueprint-for-a-temporal-vortex">The blueprint for a temporal vortex</h2>



<p>Mallett's vision for a functioning time machine replicates spacetime-warping phenomena around black holes. He offers a compelling analogy: "Picture a cup of coffee. Stir it with a spoon, and the coffee swirls. A spinning black hole does the same to spacetime."</p>



<p>In Einstein's general relativity, the universe is a dynamic fabric woven from space and time. Massive objects like black holes warp this fabric—an effect we perceive as gravity. Mallett theorizes that an intense, continuous, circulating beam of light from a ring of powerful lasers could replicate this gravitational torsion, effectively twisting time into a loop.</p>



<p>This "time loop" would theoretically allow information—or perhaps matter—to travel backward in time. He detailed this mathematical concept in his 2006 autobiography, <em>Time Traveler: A Scientist's Personal Mission to Make Time Travel a Reality</em>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-published-research-and-recognition">Published research and recognition</h2>



<p>His work, published in respected journals including <em><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/physics-letters-a" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Physics Letters A</a></em> and <em><a href="https://link.springer.com/journal/10701" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Foundations of Physics</a></em>, suggests circulating laser light could generate gravitational fields potent enough to create closed timelike curves, enabling time travel for data.</p>



<p>Mallett's research has gained worldwide media attention, featured on <a href="https://www.thisamericanlife.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Public Radio's <em>This American Life</em></a>, the <a href="https://www.history.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">History Channel</a>, and <a href="https://www.today.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBC's <em>Today Show</em></a>. The widespread interest reflects both his compelling personal story and rigorous scientific approach.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-galactic-hurdles-and-persistent-skepticism">The galactic hurdles and persistent skepticism</h2>



<p>While Mallett's equations captivate imagination, the path to reality faces immense obstacles. The energy requirement is staggering—Mallett acknowledges needing "galactic amounts of energy," far beyond current technological capabilities.</p>



<p>There's also a poignant limitation: even if realized, his machine could only send information back to when it was first activated, meaning it couldn't transport him to 1955 to prevent his father's death.</p>



<p>The scientific community remains skeptical. Physicists Ken Olum and Allen Everett argue that Mallett's proposed laser ring would need to be larger than the observable universe to achieve the necessary spacetime distortion. They invoke Stephen Hawking's chronology protection conjecture, suggesting physics may prevent macroscopic time travel.</p>



<p>Astrophysicist Paul Sutter has voiced doubts about Mallett's underlying mathematics, while science writer Brian Clegg finds the concept intriguing enough to warrant experimental investigation.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-legacy-that-transcends-time">A legacy that transcends time</h2>



<p>Now approaching 80, Dr. Mallett remains steadfast. "I believe my work will show time travel is possible," he asserts. "Future generations will build on it in ways we can't yet imagine."</p>



<p>His equations, though yet to physically bend time, have bent our collective imagination. Ongoing public interest, evidenced by his continued media appearances and Spike Lee's film adaptation of his memoir, underscores his ideas' profound impact.</p>



<p>More than a scientific pursuit, Mallett's story testifies to human resilience, intellectual courage, and hope's enduring power. Whether his theoretical time machine ever materializes, his legacy is immeasurable—inspiring countless individuals to challenge conventional limits and perceive time not as an unyielding barrier, but as a boundless frontier awaiting exploration.</p>



<p></p>



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<p>-----</p>

Retired professor claims he solved time travel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elr4948_uOU Dr. Ronald Mallett from the University of Connecticut reveals...

<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prrq8Ql81zk
</div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Acid rain and a crisis solved.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-don-t-we-ever-hear-about-acid-rain-anymore-the-environmental-crisis-that-was-solved">Why don't we ever hear about "acid rain" anymore? The environmental crisis that was solved</h2>



<p>Remember the 1980s when acid rain dominated headlines? Dire warnings about rain eating buildings, killing fish, and destroying forests filled every news cycle. Then, almost like magic, acid rain vanished from public discourse. What happened? Did we actually solve one of the late 20th century's most pressing environmental challenges?</p>



<p>The answer might surprise you. Unlike many environmental issues that drag on indefinitely, acid rain represents one of modern history's most successful ecological recovery stories. It's a tale of science, politics, and technology working together to tackle what seemed impossible.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>What was acid rain?</strong></h2>



<p>Acid rain isn't regular rain having a bad day – it's precipitation that became significantly more acidic due to air pollution. When power plants, factories, and vehicles burn fossil fuels, they release sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) into the atmosphere.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The science behind it</strong></h2>



<p>Think of acid rain as nature's chemistry experiment gone wrong. These compounds react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form sulfuric and nitric acids. When mixed with water vapor in clouds, they create precipitation with dangerously low pH levels.</p>



<p>While clean rain has a pH of about 5.6, acid rain could drop as low as 4.2 to 4.4 – roughly as acidic as tomato juice or coffee. According to US Geological Survey documentation, Scottish chemist Angus Smith first coined "acid rain" in 1872, but it didn't become a household phrase until the 1960s and 1970s when Swedish scientist Svante Odén documented its devastating effects on Scandinavian lakes and European forests.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The crisis at its peak</strong></h2>



<p>During the height of public concern, environmental damage was both widespread and visible. This wasn't some abstract future threat – people could see destruction happening in real-time.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Environmental devastation</strong></h2>



<p>The most dramatic impacts were impossible to ignore. Research documented by the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation shows that in the Adirondack Mountains, more than 200 lakes became so acidic they couldn't support fish life. The Adirondack Council reports that 409 lakes once supported brook trout, but many lost their fish populations due to acid rain.</p>



<p>By 1976, when scientists cataloged all acidified lakes in the Adirondack Park, researchers found that half of the lakes over 2,000 feet above sea level had no fish, according to studies published in environmental journals. The acidification process worked like a slow-motion disaster. As acid rain fell into watersheds, it gradually lowered pH levels. Fish couldn't survive in acidic water, and their food sources died off too.</p>



<p>Trees at high elevations showed stress directly linked to acid rain. It weakened them by leaching nutrients and making them susceptible to disease. Historical records show Germany's Black Forest saw nearly half its trees damaged by the mid-1980s.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Economic impact</strong></h2>



<p>Acid rain wasn't just environmental – it was expensive. Acidic precipitation corroded infrastructure, buildings, and monuments. Historic stone structures deteriorated at accelerated rates. Tourism suffered as lakes became fishless and forests declined. EPA economic analyses from the period documented repair costs mounting into billions annually.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The solution: government action and technology</strong></h2>



<p>Transformation from crisis to success required unprecedented cooperation between governments, industries, and environmental groups.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The Clean Air Act of 1990</strong></h2>



<p>The turning point came with the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, signed by President George H.W. Bush. This represented a fundamentally new approach to environmental regulation, as documented in EPA historical records.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Cap-and-trade success</strong></h2>



<p>Instead of mandating specific technologies, the 1990 amendments introduced something revolutionary: a cap-and-trade system for sulfur dioxide emissions. EPA program documentation shows this market-based approach set overall limits but allowed companies to trade emission allowances.</p>



<p>The genius was harnessing market forces to find cost-effective pollution reduction. Companies reducing emissions cheaply could sell excess allowances to those facing higher costs. Research published in environmental economics journals and EPA progress reports shows this resulted in dramatic SO2 reduction at a fraction of projected costs.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Technology advances</strong></h2>



<p>Policy provided the framework, but technology made reductions possible. Studies in atmospheric science journals document the widespread adoption of flue gas desulfurization systems ("scrubbers") that removed sulfur dioxide before it reached the atmosphere. By the 2000s, new installations could remove over 95% of SO2 emissions, according to EPA technical reports.</p>



<p>The push coincided with cleaner energy development. Natural gas produces fewer sulfur compounds than coal. Wind and solar, emerging in the 1990s, captured growing market share, reducing reliance on high-sulfur coal.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-we-don-t-hear-about-it-today"><strong>Why we don't hear about it today</strong></h2>



<p>Why did acid rain disappear from headlines? Simple: the problem was largely solved.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Success doesn't make news</strong></h2>



<p>There's an old journalism saying: "If it bleeds, it leads." Environmental success stories don't generate urgency like crisis reporting. Media attention shifted to other challenges: climate change, plastic pollution, and biodiversity loss. There's only so much environmental anxiety the public can absorb, and newer concerns replaced acid rain.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Mission accomplished</strong></h2>



<p>The primary reason is beautifully simple: interventions worked. EPA monitoring data shows sulfur dioxide emissions dropped over 90% since 1990. Academic research published in environmental science journals confirms pH levels in formerly affected areas returned closer to normal. This represents one of history's most dramatic environmental recoveries. Studies by the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation show fishless lakes now support healthy populations. Forests recovered, and building damage slowed dramatically.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-is-it-really-gone"><strong>Is it really gone?</strong></h2>



<p>The crisis is largely resolved, but monitoring data shows the problem isn't completely eliminated – it's managed to acceptable levels. Some areas still experience occasional events during high pollution periods. International environmental research indicates that rapidly industrializing Asian countries face similar problems to what we experienced decades ago, though they're implementing successful strategies.</p>



<p>EPA research shows nitrogen oxide emissions proved more challenging than sulfur dioxide, coming from vehicles and mobile sources. Climate science studies suggest changing weather patterns add complexity to how acid rain forms and falls.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>What this teaches us</strong></h2>



<p>The acid rain experience proves that seemingly intractable environmental problems can be solved with scientific understanding, political will, and technological innovation. Environmental monitoring data shows recovery speed was remarkable – within a decade, measurable improvements appeared in air quality and ecosystem health.</p>



<p>Success came from bipartisan support across party lines. Policy analysis studies show the market-based approach appealed to those preferring economic incentives while achieving environmental goals. This support created lasting policy surviving political changes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Conclusion</strong></h2>



<p>Acid rain's disappearance from public consciousness represents environmental science's greatest success stories. Through effective regulation, technological innovation, and international cooperation, we transformed an overwhelming crisis into a manageable challenge.</p>



<p>Today's silence isn't because we forgot – it's because we solved it. The 1990 Clean Air Act, combined with technology and energy market changes, reduced acid rain emissions over 90%, according to comprehensive EPA data analysis.</p>



<p>This success offers hope for current challenges. It proves complex problems can be solved when science, policy, and technology work together. As we face climate change and plastic pollution, acid rain reminds us that dramatic positive change is possible.</p>



<p>Next time someone asks whether environmental regulations work, remember acid rain. It's proof that sometimes, we get it right.</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<p><strong>Sources:</strong> <em>This article draws from EPA official documentation and progress reports, peer-reviewed research published in environmental and atmospheric science journals, historical data from the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation records, US Geological Survey publications, policy analysis studies, and environmental monitoring data collected over three decades.</em></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Frequently Asked Questions</strong></h2>



<p><strong>1. Is acid rain completely gone?</strong> No, but EPA monitoring shows it's reduced to manageable levels. US sulfur dioxide emissions dropped over 90% since 1990, making acid rain much less severe than the 1980s crisis.</p>



<p><strong>2. How long did solving take?</strong> Environmental monitoring data shows significant improvements began within 5-10 years of 1990s emission controls. Full ecosystem recovery took longer – some areas need 20-30 years for complete recovery.</p>



<p><strong>3. What made the solution successful?</strong> Clear scientific understanding, visible damage motivating action, bipartisan support, available technology, and innovative market-based policies like cap-and-trade.</p>



<p><strong>4. Do other countries have acid rain problems?</strong> Yes, particularly rapidly industrializing Asian countries. However, international environmental research shows many implement similar successful control strategies.</p>



<p><strong>5. Could acid rain return?</strong> Potentially, if regulations weaken or we return to high-sulfur coal without controls, though effects would take years to become severe according to environmental projections.</p>



<p><strong>6. Can you recommend any teaching tools on the subject of "acid rain"?</strong> The United States Environmental Protection Agency produced a wonderful teacher's guide for ages 14 and under that you can find on the EPA website here: <a href="https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-03/documents/teachersguide.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-03/documents/teachersguide.pdf</a></p>



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The environmental problem we actually solved

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prrq8Ql81zk Acid rain and a crisis solved. Why don't we...

<p>Scientists are transforming chocolate into a functional food by infusing it with probiotics and prebiotics, aiming to create a treat that satisfies cravings while supporting gut health. </p>



<p>The challenge lies in maintaining chocolate's beloved texture and flavor while adding health benefits.</p>



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<p>Probiotics - beneficial microbes that balance gut bacteria and aid digestion - are typically fragile and can be destroyed by stomach acid or processing. </p>



<p>Prebiotics act as food for these microbes, helping them thrive. Together, they form "synbiotics," a powerful health combination.</p>



<p>Researchers Smriti Gaur and Shubhi Singh from India's Jaypee Institute of Information Technology took an innovative approach, using natural prebiotics like corn and honey instead of complex processing methods. </p>



<p>They created five chocolate varieties: a control and four synbiotic versions containing different combinations of prebiotics, probiotics (Lactobacillus strains), and flavor enhancers (cinnamon or orange).</p>



<p>Laboratory simulations of human digestion showed the probiotics remained viable for over five hours, suggesting they could survive long enough to benefit gut health.</p>



<p>Taste tests were positive, with researchers particularly enjoying the orange-flavored variety, describing it as having "vibrant citrus notes" complementing the "rich cocoa" with a "luxurious" texture.</p>



<p>This research represents just the beginning. With further refinement of strains, textures, and flavors, chocolate could evolve beyond mere indulgence to become a functional food that nourishes while it delights.</p>



<p>The study is published in the journal <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsfoodscitech.4c00741" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ACS Food Science &amp; Technology</a>.</p>

Is chocolate the next nutritional powerhouse?

Scientists are transforming chocolate into a functional food by infusing...

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<p>Today’s <strong>Video of the Day</strong> from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Nushagak Bay, a large estuary in southwest Alaska. Nushagak runs mainly north to south and exits in Bristol Bay, a large body of water in the Bering Sea.</p>



<p>"The bay is primarily fed by the Nushagak River, which begins in the Alaska Range and flows southwest approximately 450 km. The bay is also fed by several additional rivers including the Wood, Igushik, Snake and Weary rivers," says ESA.</p>



<p>"The dark colors of the Nushagak River are most likely due to tannins or lignins (chemical substances found in plants). Tannins and lignins from roots, leaves, seeds, bark and soil can leach into the water and give it a brown or even black colour. The sediments then flow southwards where it is mixed with the bluer waters of the bay."</p>



<p><em>Video/ Image Credit: ESA</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



<p><em>By </em><a href="http://csexton@earth.com"><em>Chrissy Sexton</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/"><em>Earth.com</em></a><em> Staff Writer</em></p>

Nushagak Bay in southwest Alaska

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<p>Today's <strong>Video of the Day</strong> from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> (ACS) reveals that proteins on flu viruses are actually flexible, tilting and waving in a “breath-like” motion. According to the experts, these proteins could be used to better defend against the flu.</p>



<p>"The main antigenic targets of influenza virus are two surface glycoproteins, hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). Whereas the structural and dynamical properties of both glycoproteins have been studied previously, the understanding of their plasticity in the whole-virion context is fragmented," wrote the researchers.</p>



<p>To investigate, the team conducted detailed simulations of the influenza A H1N1 virion, or the swine flu. The experts concluded that the visualizations show many new vulnerable states of flu viruses, which could improve future vaccines and antiviral drugs.</p>



<p><em>Video/ Image Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



<p><em>By </em><a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com"><em>Chrissy Sexton</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/"><em>Earth.com</em></a><em> Editor</em></p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.</p>

Flu viruses are more flexible than expected

[sendtonews key="G9bUoxcjr4-2511624-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from the...

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<p>Today’s <strong>Video of the Day</strong> from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Lake Trasimeno, which is located west of Perugia in central Italy. It is the fourth largest lake in the country. While Trasimeno’s water level varies, it has a maximum depth of approximately six meters.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"In this Copernicus Sentinel-2 image, captured on 6 August 2022, the lake’s emerald green colour is likely due to the presence of phytoplankton. Streaks in the water, particularly visible in the west, indicate the presence of soil and sediments which have been stirred up by winds. Dark colored waters in the southern part of the lake indicate a presence of submerged and floating macrophytes (aquatic plants) as well as algae," says ESA.</p>



<p>"Surrounded by hills on three sides, Trasimeno is subject to heavy storms created by winds, especially from the north and west. There are three islets in the lake: Maggiore, Minore and Polvese (the largest). The lake’s shores are sparsely inhabited with only two popular villages: Castiglione del Lago and Passignano sul Trasimeno."</p>



<p>"Italy is experiencing its worst drought in 70 years which has affected drinking water supplies, hydroelectric power and agricultural production. High temperatures, hot winds and lack of rainfall are the main causes of drought in the Umbrian region which saw Lake Trasimeno’s drop 1.3 m, reaching the limit of the hydrometric zero in July 2022."</p>



<p><em>Video/Image Credit: ESA&nbsp;</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



<p><em>By </em><a href="http://csexton@earth.com"><em>Chrissy Sexton</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/"><em>Earth.com</em></a><em> Staff Writer</em></p>

Lake Trasimeno in Central Italy

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<p>Today's <strong>Video of the Day</strong> from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> describes a new self-powered nanosensor that can instantly detect mercury contamination with the tap of a finger.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The oxidized form of mercury can be harmful when it is ingested through contaminated water or food. This makes it necessary for experts to develop sensors that can quickly and accurately detect the presence of mercury.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Zong-Hong Lin and colleagues have now created a triboelectric nanosensor (TENS) that can detect mercury by simply by touching a sample. According to the researchers, their TENS could serve as the basis for similar devices to safely and remotely monitor other pollutants.</p>



<p><em>Video Credit: American Chemical Society&nbsp;</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



<p><em>By </em><a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com"><em>Chrissy Sexton</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/"><em>Earth.com</em></a><em> Editor</em></p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.</p>

Detecting mercury contamination with the tap of a finger

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<p>Today’s <strong>Video of the Day</strong> from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Kainji Lake, a reservoir on the Niger River.</p>



<p>In 1968, Kainji Lake was created by the construction of the Kainji Dam. The Niger River, the third longest in Africa, enters the lake in the north.&nbsp;</p>



<p>According to <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rivers-in-the-american-west-are-a-lifesaving-resource-for-birds/">ESA</a>, the creation of the lake submerged Foge Island and the town of Bussa and permanently flooded other riverine settlements, leaving around 50,000 people displaced.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Large parts of Foge Island are temporarily exposed during low water tides, and the land is often used by migrating fishermen. Kainji Dam is a dam across the Niger River in Niger State of Central Nigeria. </p>



<p>Wild mammals occur at relatively low densities due to illegal hunting. Lake Kainji has suffered a dramatic decline as a fishery due to the high numbers of artisanal and subsistence fisherfolk using the lake. It has been suggested that a period of closure, together with controlled fishing rights may help improve fish stocks.</p>



<p>Kainji Lake National Park is the oldest of its kind in Nigeria. The park contains three distinct areas: a part of the Kainji Lake, the Borgu Game Reserve to the west of the lake, and the Zugurma Game Reserve to the southeast. The park is home to around 65 mammal species, 350 bird species, and 30 species of reptiles and amphibians. </p>



<p><em>Video/ Image Credit: European Space Agency&nbsp;</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



<p><em>By </em><a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com"><em>Chrissy Sexton</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/"><em>Earth.com</em></a><em> Editor</em></p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.</p>

Kainji Lake in north central Nigeria

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<p>Today’s <strong>Video of the Day</strong> from <a href="https://www.igb.illinois.edu/">Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology</a> reveals how scientists can modify common crops like soybean, rice, and wheat to protect them from heat stress.</p>



<p>“We need to double crop production by 2050 to feed a growing global population, and not only are we not on track to do that, but climate change is further complicating things,” said Amanda Cavanagh, a lecturer at the University of Essex. </p>



<p>The study is part of Realizing Increased Photosynthetic Efficiency (RIPE), an international research project that aims to develop food crops that turn the sun’s energy into food more efficiently.</p>



<p>“Using an engineering approach we designed multiple alternative metabolic pathways to photorespiration. Testing them in the field showed increases in productivity which led Amanda to significantly move the project forward by showing our engineered plants can withstand pretty extreme temperature stress,” said study co-author and RIPE researcher Paul South.&nbsp;</p>



<p>“As the climate changes and temperature stresses increase the pressure on our global food supply, farmers will need every tool available including engineering approaches like the synthetic biology used here to maintain safe and productive harvests.”</p>



<p>The experts tested plants modified to have more efficient photorespiration to see if they were better adapted to warmer temperatures.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The team found that the engineered plants produced 26 percent more biomass than the wild-type plants exposed to the same temperatures, and had 15 percent less yield loss under the higher temperatures.</p>



<p><em>Video Credit: Amanda Nguyen/University of Illinois</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



<p><em>By </em><a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com"><em>Chrissy Sexton</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/"><em>Earth.com</em></a><em> Editor</em></p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.</p>

Designing crops that can beat the heat

[sendtonews key="QGPzYnXEtN-1712599-12187" type="single"] Today’s Video of the Day from Carl...

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<p>Today’s <strong>Video of the Day</strong> from the <a href="https://www.acs.org/">American Chemical Society</a> explores the ability of salt to transform the way that foods and beverages taste. Salt is known to cover up undesirable flavors, such as bitterness in coffee or beer, but how exactly does sodium chloride change the taste of other compounds?</p>



<p>One previous study showed that, not only does salt suppress bitterness, but also enhances sweetness and sourness. Another study revealed that bitterness reduction by salt seems to be happening at the tongue receptor level as well as in the brain.&nbsp;</p>



<p>While it is known that salt taste is mediated by the presence of sodium channels in the form of taste buds, experts believe that there is also an unknown receptor responsible for how we taste salt that has not yet been identified.&nbsp;</p>



<p><em>Video Credit: ACS Reactions</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



<p><em>By </em><a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com"><em>Chrissy Sexton</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/"><em>Earth.com</em></a><em> Editor</em></p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.</p>

How does salt makes things taste better?

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<p>Today’s <strong>Video of the Day</strong> from the <a href="https://www.esa.int/">European Space Agency</a> features Santiago, the capital city of Chile. The city is located in the center of the Santiago Metropolitan Region, which has a population of about eight million people.&nbsp;</p>



<p>'The weather of Santiago resembles the Mediterranean climate with dry and warm summers with temperatures reaching up to 35°C (from October to March) and cool and humid winters that can drop to 0°C (from April to September)."</p>



<p>"The city lies in the centre of the country’s central valley around 80 km from the Pacific Ocean to the west and borders Argentina to the east. A tiny part of Argentina is visible in the top-right corner of the image where the mountain crest of the Andes Mountains acts as a divider between the two countries," says ESA.</p>



<p><em>Video/ Image Credit: ESA</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



<p><em>By </em><a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com"><em>Chrissy Sexton</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/"><em>Earth.com</em></a><em> Editor</em></p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.</p>

Santiago, Chile in South America

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Spiral,Galaxy,,Illustration,Of,Milky,Way

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<p>Astronomers at <a href="https://www.jhu.edu/">Johns Hopkins University</a> have created an interactive map of the universe, including the actual position and real colors of 200,000 galaxies. The map allows the public to access data that was previously only available to scientists.</p>



<p>The map was developed using data collected by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. For over two decades, a telescope in New Mexico was aimed at slightly different locations to capture the night sky.&nbsp;</p>



<p>"Growing up I was very inspired by astronomy pictures, stars, nebulae and galaxies, and now it's our time to create a new type of picture to inspire people," said map creator Brice Ménard, a professor at Johns Hopkins. "Astrophysicists around the world have been analyzing this data for years, leading to thousands of scientific papers and discoveries. But nobody took the time to create a map that is beautiful, scientifically accurate, and accessible to people who are not scientists. Our goal here is to show everybody what the universe really looks like."</p>



<p>"In this map, we are just a speck at the very bottom, just one pixel. And when I say we, I mean our galaxy, the Milky Way which has billions of stars and planets. We are used to seeing astronomical pictures showing one galaxy here, one galaxy there or perhaps a group of galaxies. But what this map shows is a very, very different scale."</p>



<p>"From this speck at the bottom, we are able to map out galaxies across the entire universe, and that says something about the power of science."</p>



<p>The <a href="https://mapoftheuniverse.net/">interactive map</a> is available online, where it can be downloaded for free.</p>



<p><em>Video Credit: Johns Hopkins&nbsp;</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



<p><em>By </em><a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com"><em>Chrissy Sexton</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/"><em>Earth.com</em></a><em> Editor</em></p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.</p>

Interactive map of the universe includes 200,000 galaxies

[sendtonews key="e4ZG0Jawp3-2374785-12187" type="single"] Astronomers at Johns Hopkins University have created...

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<p>Today's <strong>Video of the Day</strong> from <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/goddard">NASA Goddard</a> describes the first comprehensive estimate of carbon density in the Saharan, Sahel, and Sudanian zones of Africa. In an effort to measure the amount of carbon stored across these drylands, a team of scientists used high-resolution satellite images and artificial intelligence to map nearly 10 billion individual trees. </p>



<p>"The high spatial resolution (50 cm) combined with AI and field measurements used in this study is key to improving tree inventories in drylands," said Pierre Hiernaux, a French researcher working for NASA. "The ever-increasing availability of very high-resolution satellite imagery will make it possible to assess carbon pools and their dynamics at the individual tree level on a global scale."</p>



<p>"This study is exceptional because it is pioneering a type of approach that will revolutionize the monitoring of trees and forests on a global scale: in the short term, it will be possible to map the world's trees from the centre of the Amazon to our schoolyards," said <a href="https://www.inrae.fr/en">INRAE</a> researcher Jean-Pierre Wigneron.</p>



<p>"Many fields of application will become much more efficient and accurate, such as tracking carbon stocks, biodiversity, monitoring logging and protection against illegal forest degradation, in near real time.”</p>



<p><em>Video Credit: NASA Goddard&nbsp;</em></p>



<p><em>-</em><em>--</em></p>



<p><em>By </em><a href="mailto:csexton@earth.com"><em>Chrissy Sexton</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.earth.com/staff/"><em>Earth.com</em></a><em> Editor</em></p>



<p>Check us out on <a href="https://www.earth.com/earthsnap/">EarthSnap</a>, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.</p>

Remote sensing will revolutionize the way we monitor trees

[sendtonews key="EjmSP20gQK-2593093-12187" type="single"] Today's Video of the Day from NASA...

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